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Wessel Nijman maintained his outstanding record against Ryan Searle to win a remarkable sixth Players Championship title of the season on Tuesday.
The Dutch superstar recorded an eighth straight win over Searle to capture the Players Championship 21 crown – the 10th PDC ranking title of his fledgling career.
Nijman has been a revelation in 2026, and he continued his sparkling ProTour form at Wigan, recording seven straight wins to extend his lead at the summit of The Players Championship.
After victories over Stephen Burton, Darryl Pilgrim, Adam Gawlas and Kai Gothard, Nijman built up a ton-plus average by eliminating Kevin Deutz in an all-Dutch quarter-final.
The European Darts Trophy champion then defeated the brilliant Beau Greaves in the semi-finals, following checkouts of 127 and 101 in legs 11 and 15 to secure a 7-4 success.
It set up a thrilling showdown against Searle in Tuesday’s showpiece, with the former winning by six throws of eight legs.
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Speaking on the Love the Darts podcast, Matt Edgar discusses whether Luke Littler can make a clean sweep of every major trophy this year.
Nijman then punished three missed doubles from Searle to lead 7-6, before a 14-darter victory, with the Somerset star wiring the Bulls for a 161 skin-saver.
The 25-year-old subsequently became the first player in 14 years to win six Players Championship titles in a calendar year – a feat achieved by his compatriot Michael van Gerwen.
Nijman became the sixth player to win seven ProTour titles in a season, joining the decorated quintet of Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Gary Anderson, van Gerwen and Peter Wright.
“It never gets boring, I’ll tell you,” reflects Nijman, who leapfrogged Nathan Aspinall on the PDC Varner rankings ladder.
“I went into this tournament with no expectations to be honest because I hadn’t thrown a dart in ten days.
“I went on holiday to Greece with my girlfriend… I think I need to go to Greece more often now!
“I am very happy with the way I am playing now and the title I have won.
“I’m looking forward to all the next tournaments. I’m going into these TV events differently than last time. I’m getting more experience and that can make a difference.”
Despite missing out on a second ranking title of the campaign, Searle put in another impressive display at Robin Park Leisure Centre, starting with a whitewash victory over Derek Coulson.
The 38-year-old dismissed Irish pair Niall Culleton and Kean Barry before averaging 101 in the deciding-leg victory over Sweden’s premier player Geoffrey de Graaf.
The World Championship semi-finalist continued his charge by claiming the scalps of Premier League stars Stephen Bunting and Jonny Clayton, earning him £10,000 in prize money.
Welsh No.1 Clayton registered a hat-trick of ton-plus averages in his run to the last four, where he joined 11-time Players Championship winner Greaves.
The two-time women’s world matchplay champion accounted for a quarter of the PDC title winners throughout the afternoon, followed by Ryan Joyce, Ian White, Luke Woodhouse and Chris Dobey respectively.
Greaves averaged around 106 in an impressive contest against Dobb, who completed the quarter-final line-up with Bunting, Doets and Dirk van Duyvenbode.
The action continues on Wednesday as the Players Championship 22 takes place at the same venue.
2026 Players Championship 21
Last 16
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Kai Gotthardt
Kevin Deutz 6-1 Tommy Leishman
Chris Dobe 6-5 Nils Jonveld
Beau Greaves 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
Dirk van Duyvenbode 6-4 Ross Smith
Johnny Clayton 6-5 Karel Sedlacek
Ryan Searle 6-5 Jeffrey D. Graf
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Callan Rydz
Quarter-final
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Kevin Deutz
Beau Greaves 6-4 Chris Dobey
Johnny Clayton 6-4 Dirk van Duyvenbode
Ryan Searle 6-3 Stephen Bunting
semi-final
Wessel Nijman 7-4 Beau Greaves
Ryan Searle 7-5 Johnny Clayton
the final
Wessel Nijman 8-6 Ryan Searle
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