Wessel Nijman wins his fifth Players Championship title to continue his dominance in 2026
Wessel Nijman wins his fifth Players Championship title to continue his dominance in 2026
Wessel Nijman continued his staggering Players Championship dominance by claiming his fifth title of the year at Event 14 in Hildesheim on Tuesday.
Nijman thrashed Max Hopp 8-1 in the final to collect the £15,000 top prize for a fifth time in just 12 appearances on the circuit, becoming the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2016 to win five Players Championship titles in a calendar year.
The Dutchman capitalised after Hopp busted 61 in the opening leg to break throw, before doubling his lead with an 88 checkout.
The 25-year-old then reeled off another four consecutive legs to surge 6-0 ahead, producing an 84 finish on the bull and a superb 140 checkout in legs five and six while averaging over 110 at one stage.
Although Hopp broke in the seventh leg to get on the board, it proved only a consolation, as Nijman immediately broke back before wrapping up the title with a 15-dart hold.
“It’s always good to hold your best game for the final,” professed Nijman, who produced his highest average of the day in the final with 104.62.
“I’m just happy with the way I’m playing. I played well today, especially in the later stages of the tournament.
“I’m feeling pretty confident in these floor events, and I hope I can play like this on the floor for many more years.
“I don’t really care about records, I care more about the form that I’m playing right now. It’s always good to have those kinds of records in your bag, but it doesn’t give you much more than the form you’re in.
“I just want to be in the top 16 and make as many steps as close to number one as possible by the end of the year.”
Nijman began the day with comfortable victories over Daniel Klose and Jurjen van der Velde, before defeating Niall Culleton 6-3 to reach the last 16.
His toughest test came against Joe Cullen, where he prevailed 6-4 with a 102 average – the first of four consecutive ton-plus averages en route to the title.
Nijman then swept aside Krzysztof Ratajski 6-1 with a 102.98 average before cruising past Danny Noppert 7-2 to book a remarkable sixth Players Championship final of the year.
Hopp, meanwhile, climbed into the top ten of the 2026 Players Championship rankings after reaching his first final since 2019.
Following a walkover against Christian Kist, who withdrew injured mid-match, the German recorded 6-4 victories over Lewis Pride and Damon Heta.
The 29-year-old then defeated former World Champion Rob Cross 6-2 and Joe Hunt 6-3 to progress to the semi-finals.
There, Hopp ended the run of in-form Tom Bissell with a 7-3 victory to set up the final against Nijman, though he was denied a first ranking title since 2018 in emphatic fashion.
Bissell again impressed in reaching the last four, taking the scalps of second seed Chris Dobey and Austrian veteran Mensur Suljovic.
Noppert also enjoyed a strong run to the semi-finals, including successive 6-2 wins with ton-plus averages over Dirk van Duijvenbode and Richard Veenstra.
Veenstra produced a nine-dart finish during his run to the quarter-finals, achieving perfection against Leon Weber in round two.
Damon Heta’s 110.78 average against Jim Long stood as the highest of the day, while Cullen posted 108.34 in his 6-1 demolition of Adam Lipscombe in round three.
The 2026 PDC ProTour season continues next week with another Players Championship double-header in Leicester, where Events 15 and 16 will take place on May 11-12.
Wessel Nijman wins his fifth Players Championship title to continue his dominance in 2026
2026 Players Championship Fourteen
Tuesday May 5
Halle 39, Hildesheim
Last 16
Wessel Nijman 6-4 Joe Cullen
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-1 James Hurrell
Danny Noppert 6-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Richard Veenstra 6-1 Oliver Mitchell
Tom Bissell 6-1 Lukas Wenig
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Maik Kuivenhoven
Joe Hunt 6-1 Keane Barry
Max Hopp 6-2 Rob Cross
Quarter-Finals
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert 6-2 Richard Veenstra
Tom Bissell 6-5 Mensur Suljovic
Max Hopp 6-3 Joe Hunt
Semi-Finals
Wessel Nijman 7-2 Danny Noppert
Max Hopp 7-3 Tom Bissell
Final
Wessel Nijman 8-1 Max Hopp
Nine-Darter!
Richard Veenstra hit a nine-darter in his round two tie against Leon Weber.
