Wessel Nijman Clinches Dramatic Victory at Players Championship two
In a nail-biting finale held at Halle 39, Wessel Nijman captured his fourth PDC ranking title by edging out Gerwyn Price in a tense deciding leg. Despite Price’s impressive tournament average of 105.69, it was the composed Dutch contender who secured the £15,000 winner’s prize with a flawless finish under pressure.
Precision and Poise Define the Final Showdown
Nijman set the tone early by winning three legs in succession with efficient 14-dart finishes to establish a 3-1 lead. However,Price fought back fiercely,leveling the match at 3-3 after an exceptional 144 checkout in leg six.The Welsh player then surged ahead with an 11-darter and capped it off with a remarkable bullseye on a 121 checkout to take a narrow advantage of 6-5.
The pendulum swung once more as Nijman broke throw decisively in leg twelve using just twelve darts to tie the score at six apiece again.Both players then held their throws comfortably until reaching an electrifying conclusion were Nijman’s throw advantage proved pivotal-he sealed victory through an outstanding maximum score of 171 followed by clinical doubles.
Gerwyn price: A Formidable Force Despite Narrow Loss
The runner-up showcased exceptional form throughout the event, posting two highest averages of the day including an remarkable 117.12 average, dismantling Michael van Gerwen within nine minutes-a whitewash featuring legs completed in as few as eleven darts each.
This dominant momentum carried into his semi-final win over Krzysztof Ratajski (7-4), where he maintained averages exceeding 104 points per visit, underscoring his status among darts’ elite competitors.
A Setback for Raymond van Barneveld Amidst Emerging Talent Surge
The legendary five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld suffered one of his poorest performances during this tournament’s second round defeat against Owen Bates (6-1). Van Barneveld recorded only a disappointing average of 69.39, marking his lowest PDC ProTour figure ever and recalling struggles last seen outside PDC competition years ago.
Nine-Dart Finishes Highlight Rising Standards across Europe
This tournament also featured two perfect nine-dart legs: James Hurrell achieved perfection against Maik Kuivenhoven while Gabriel Clemens matched this feat facing Madars Razma-demonstrating increasing levels of excellence across European darts circuits heading into mid-2026.
Tournament Recap: Key Matches from Hildesheim’s Players Championship Two
date:
Tuesday February 10 – Halle 39, Hildesheim
Round of Last Sixteen Results:
Gerwyn Price defeated Luke Woodhouse (6-4)
Michael van Gerwen edged James Hurrell (6-5)
danny Noppert overcame Gabriel Clemens (6-2)
Krzysztof Ratajski beat Mario Vandenbogaerde (6-2)
Ryan Searle triumphed over Kevin Doets (6-4)
Dave Chisnall bested Daryl Gurney (6-3)
Wessel Nijman won against Tommy Morris (6-4)
Carl Sneyd narrowly defeated Ritchie Edhouse (6-5)
Quarter-Final highlights:
gerwyn Price whitewashed Michael van Gerwen convincingly (6-0)
Krzysztof Ratajski dispatched Danny Noppert comfortably (6-2)
Ryan Searle dominated Dave Chisnall decisively (6-1)
Wessel Nijman advanced past Carl Sneyd efficiently(6-2)
Semi-Final Showdowns:
Gerwyn Price overcame Krzysztof Ratajski with solid play(7-4)
Wessel Nijman controlled proceedings versus Ryan Searle(7-2)
The Final Scoreline:
Wessel Nijman narrowly edged out Gerwyn Price in thrilling fashion(8-7)
Navigating Future premier league Darts Battles Ahead
The upcoming Premier League darts season promises intense rivalries as reigning champion Luke Humphries prepares to defend his title amid surging contenders like Wessel Nijman alongside consistent performers such as Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen-all competing fiercely across weekly fixtures scheduled from February through May on Sky Sports coverage.
Nijman’s Recent Tournament Success Underlines His Rise
- 2026 PC02: Wessel Nijman 📌
- 2026 PC01: James Wade
- 2025 PC34: Wessel Nijman 📌
- 2025 PC33: Chris Dobey
- 2025 PC32: luke Littler
- 2025 PC31: Jermaine Wattimena
- 2025 PC30: Wessel Nijman 📌
“beating someone like Gerwyn who pushes you so hard means everything,” Nijman said after averaging over 102.78 darts per visit during this victorious run.
“I’m closing on breaking into the top sixteen now; my focus is on maintaining consistency on major stages.”
