As Wessel Nijman picked up his fourth PDC ranking title on Tuesday, after a dramatic 8-7 victory against Gerwyn Price in the final of Players Championship Two, saw several other, less high profile, tales were beginning to be written.
The opening double header of the 2026 PDC Pro Tour season concluded yesterday at Halle 39, Hildesheim. Today’s European Tour qualifiers will also set the tone for at least the early part of the ‘floor season’.
Nijman, the winner of two Players Championship titles in 2025, went all the way once again as he recorded victories against Viktor Tingstrom, Samuel Price, Cor Dekker, Tommy Morris, Carl Sneyd and Ryan Searle, to set up a clash with Price.
Notice that two of the latter three names are as yet unheralded at this level. Both Tommy Morris and carl Sneyd are newcomers to the elite Pro Tour. Sneyd has done a single season and Morris is making his debut. Yet both were in the later stages and not solely due to having good days and being unfamiliar. No more do player arrive here with little or no pressure darst experience and in similar conditions against top quality players.
The final began with three straight holds of throw before the first break came from Nijman in Leg Four with a 14 darter to move 3-1 ahead in a race to eight. Price then hit back by winning back-to-back legs in a total of 26 darts to square the tie up at 3apiece.
The final then saw four straight holds of throw between the pair before Price broke his Dutch opponent’s throw in Leg 11 with a 12 darter to move 6-5 ahead and within two of victory. Nijman then hit back with a 12-dart leg of his own before the tie saw three straight holds of throw and the advantage of winning the bull prior to the match commencing proved to be decisive as Nijman sealed the victory in a last leg decider to clinch a fourth career PDC ranking title as well as collecting the £15,000 top prize.
Price, the winner of four Players Championship titles last year, was narrowly denied in the finale after a heroic day in Hildesheim which saw the Welshman average over 105 for the day as he recorded victories along the way against Kim Huybrechts, Stephen Burton, Cristo Reyes, Luke Woodhouse, Michael Van Gerwen and Krzysztof Ratajski, before being denied by Nijman.
Many will have also spotted the return to both form and consistency of Ratajski a.k.a ‘The Polish Eagle’ and few will begrudge him a recovery from tough times.
Elsewhere, there were Quarter Final runs for Former UK Open Champion Danny Noppert and six-time major finalist Dave Chisnall. Also to be noted is the continuing good form of James Hurrell who’s Ally pally run may have inspired him to make the final leap to the top of the sport. Gabriel Clemens also looks to have returned to something like himself and is regularly making an impression again.
What may have been considered the second or third tier players, within the 128 tour card holders, can no longer be assumed to be ‘1st or even 2nd round fodder’.
The likes of Gian Van Veen, Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey were amongst the high profile first round casualties with Monday’s PC1 winner James Wade suffering an exit in Round Three.
The day also saw a perfect nine-dart leg hit by the aforementioned James Hurrell during his first-round victory against Maik Kuivenhoven, which followed up from Mickey Mansell’s exploits in also hitting a nine-darter 24 hours prior.
The PDC Pro Tour returns next week at Wigan’s Robin Park Leisure Centre with Players Championship Three & Four taking place between February 16-17, with 128 players competing for £150,000 in prize money each day.
Play will be broadcasted across four streaming boards on PDC.TV and various bookmaker websites worldwide, with all live scores and results on tv.dartconnect.com.
Players Championship Two
Last 16
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Luke Woodhouse
Michael Van Gerwen 6-5 James Hurrell
Danny Noppert 6-2 Gabriel Clemens
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Ryan Searle 6-4 Kevin Doets
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Wessel Nijman 6-4 Tommy Morris
Carl Sneyd 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse
Quarter Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-0 Michael Van Gerwen
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Danny Noppert
Ryan Searle 6-1 Dave Chisnall
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Carl Sneyd
Semi Finals
Gerwyn Price 7-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
Wessel Nijman 7-2 Ryan Searle
Final
Wessel Nijman 8-7 Gerwyn Price
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
