Wessel Nijman Continues Sensational Season With Slovak Darts Open Triumph “I cannot put this into words. It’s so amazing”
Wessel Nijman Continues Sensational Season With Slovak Darts Open Triumph “I cannot put this into words. It’s so amazing”
Wessel Nijman’s sensational 2026 campaign reached another milestone on Sunday evening as the Dutch star claimed the inaugural Slovak Darts Open title, defeating Rob Cross 8-3 in a high-quality final in Bratislava.
Fresh from lifting Players Championship 21 earlier in the week, Nijman carried his superb form onto the European Tour stage, producing another string of outstanding performances at the Incheba Expo to secure his second European Tour title of the season and eighth ranking title overall in 2026.
The victory sees the 25-year-old join an elite group of players in PDC history. Nijman becomes only the fourth player to win eight or more ProTour titles in a single season, following in the footsteps of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright.
He is also the first player this year to capture multiple European Tour crowns, further underlining his status as one of the sport’s standout performers.
Nijman saved arguably his best display for the final, producing a relentless performance against former World Champion Cross.
The Dutchman seized control of the contest early, landing a pair of ton-plus checkouts and reeling off four consecutive legs to establish a commanding 5-2 advantage.
Cross refused to go away and delivered a strong performance of his own, averaging above 102 throughout the match. However, Nijman’s relentless scoring and clinical finishing proved too much to handle.
A brilliant 12-dart break of throw moved him to within touching distance of victory before he wrapped up the title with a clinical 74 checkout, ending the contest with a superb 103.80 average.
“I cannot put this into words. It’s so amazing,” confessed Nijman, who climbed to world number 14 after becoming the inaugural Slovak Darts Open champion.
“Sometimes you have those days where you feel this can be a winning day because you feel so confident and today was a day like that.
“I’m really happy I did it. It was so warm up here, so it was a game of stamina, but whenever you get control you’re probably going to win the game, and that’s what I did.”
The title capped another remarkable weekend for Nijman, who looked in complete control throughout much of the tournament.
After opening his campaign with victories over Benjamin Pratnemer and Stephen Bunting, the Dutchman delivered one of the performances of the tournament against Bunting, winning 6-1 and missing just a single dart at double.
He then powered into the semi-finals with an outstanding display against Belgium’s Mike De Decker.
A spectacular 170 checkout helped Nijman on his way to a 104.50 average as he brushed aside the Belgian number one in emphatic fashion.
The semi-final against Ross Smith provided a sterner examination.
Having moved into a commanding 5-2 lead, Nijman saw Smith battle back to force a deciding leg. Yet when the pressure was at its highest, the Dutchman responded brilliantly, taking out 341 points in six darts to seal his place in the final.
Reflecting on both his success and the quality currently on display across the PDC circuit, Nijman believes the standard of competition has never been stronger.
“This tournament just shows the level of darts at the moment,” continued Nijman, who now tops the 2026 European Tour rankings.
“Even without [Luke] Littler and [Luke] Humphries, the level is still high and that’s what the PDC is like now.
“I’m really looking forward to the World Matchplay. Last year I was there and I felt this was the best tournament there is.
“I hope I can do some damage there and show the darts I’ve been producing here, and we’ll just see what happens.”
While Nijman celebrated another trophy, Rob Cross continued his resurgence with another impressive week on the ProTour.
The former World Champion arrived in Bratislava fresh from winning Players Championship 22 in Wigan and followed that success with a run to the final, collecting another £15,000 in prize money.
Cross began his campaign with victory over Host Nation qualifier Juraj Holub before producing one of the results of the tournament by defeating top seed Gian van Veen 6-3.
The Englishman then showed his fighting qualities in the last 16, recovering from 5-4 down against Kevin Doets to snatch victory in a deciding leg.
His best display came in the quarter-finals.
Having lost his previous ten meetings against Nathan Aspinall, Cross finally ended that streak in style, averaging 102.75 in a commanding 6-2 success over the former World Matchplay champion.
Cross then ended the dream run of European Tour debutant Tom Sykes in the semi-finals to reach his first European Tour final for more than two years.
Despite being outplayed by an inspired Nijman in the final, the 35-year-old was encouraged by the progress he has made in recent weeks.
“Wessel played great there,” professed Cross, who missed just two darts at double in the final despite losing 8-3.
“I don’t enjoy the heat, but the crowd this weekend have been fantastic. It wasn’t my weekend, but things are heading in the right direction.
“I wouldn’t say I’m at my peak at the minute, but I’m starting to get there. I won a title in the week, another final today, and this was good practice for the World Matchplay!
“It’s just the beginning again, and I’m sure I have got many more majors left in me.”
One of the biggest stories of the weekend was the performance of Tom Sykes.
Competing in his first-ever European Tour event after earning a Tour Card at Q School in January, the Englishman announced himself on the big stage with a run to the semi-finals.
Sykes averaged over 103 to defeat Niko Springer in his European Tour debut before recording further victories against Martin Schindler, Cameron Menzies and Jermaine Wattimena to pocket £10,000 and continue his impressive rise.
Ross Smith was the other semi-finalist after another strong European Tour campaign. The former European Champion defeated Joe Cullen, Chris Dobey and Andrew Gilding, averaging 104.57 against Dobey in one of the standout performances of the tournament.
De Decker completed the quarter-final line-up alongside Aspinall, Wattimena and Gilding. The Belgian enjoyed his best European Tour run of the season and registered his first win on the circuit since February by producing a remarkable 107-plus average in a 6-2 demolition of William O’Connor.
Attention now turns back to the ProTour, with Players Championship 23 and 24 taking place in Leicester on July 6-7.
Those two events will prove crucial in determining the final field for the World Matchplay before the European Tour resumes in Leverkusen for the 2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open from July 10-12.
Wessel Nijman Continues Sensational Season With Slovak Darts Open Triumph
2026 Slovak Darts Open
Sunday June 21
Afternoon Session
Rob Cross 6-5 Kevin Doets
Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Ryan Searle
Tom Sykes 6-4 Cameron Menzies
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Danny Noppert
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Ross Smith 6-4 Chris Dobey
Mike De Decker 6-5 Ryan Joyce
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Tom Sykes 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Ross Smith 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Mike De Decker
Semi-Finals
Rob Cross 7-2 Tom Sykes
Wessel Nijman 7-6 Ross Smith
Final
Wessel Nijman 8-3 Rob Cross
