Wessel Nijman heads into the 2026 World Matchplay with a statistic that puts his tournament in a whole new light: he is now part of the very small group of players capable of winning eight PDC ProTour titles in a single year. The list is very short: Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and now Nijman. For a 26-year-old player still seeking his big breakthrough on the major stage, this is a strong statement.
The PDC highlighted this figure on Sunday, a few hours before his opening match in Blackpool against Dave Chisnall. In the official article, Nijman exudes great confidence, whilst maintaining a clear-eyed perspective: his titles have come on the ProTour and the European Tour, not yet in the gruelling conditions of a full-length major.
Put another way: the standard is there, the titles are there, but Blackpool demands something else. And that is precisely why his first-round match against Chisnall counts for a little more than just a Sunday fixture.
The statistic that puts Nijman in a different league
The most telling detail is that tally of eight ProTour titles in 2026. Nijman has racked up six Players Championships, then added the European Darts Trophy and the Slovak Darts Open title. This is no longer just a good run of form. It’s a season that’s starting to carry weight in comparisons.
The Dutchman also tops the Players Championship and European Tour rankings, which gives a fairly clear indication of his consistency away from major televised events. There is one important caveat, however: the World Matchplay does not simply reward the player who has been performing well since February. It rewards the player who can maintain that standard in a high-pressure venue, with drawn-out sessions and matches where the tension rises rapidly.
| Competition | Betfred World Matchplay 2026 |
| Venue | Winter Gardens, Blackpool |
| First match | Wessel Nijman vs Dave Chisnall |
| What’s at stake | Turning a brilliant ProTour season into a major title |
Chisnall, the perfect litmus test
Dave Chisnall isn’t coming into this with the same momentum, but a first-round match is never a straightforward affair. The Englishman snatched the final qualifying spot for Blackpool, and his experience at the World Matchplay could quickly make the match uncomfortable if Nijman starts too cautiously. On an evening like this, the line between control and doubt can vanish in the space of a few legs.
Nijman knows this too: his status has changed. He is no longer just the dangerous player nobody wants to face. He is now the one everyone is watching. When a player wins so much on the regular tours, every appearance in a major becomes a public test. This is where things get tough.
A Dutch night to watch out for
The Dutch context adds an interesting dimension. The PDC also released an update on Sunday regarding Gian van Veen, who is set to face Krzysztof Ratajski. If both Dutchmen progress, they could find themselves in a section of the draw that would immediately give this 2026 edition a whole new flavour.
For Nijman, it’s not yet time to look too far ahead. But his trajectory and that of Van Veen tell a story: the Netherlands no longer relies solely on the historic legacy of Michael van Gerwen. A new generation is emerging, winning, learning, and Blackpool could prove to be a real test.
Why today’s opening match matters
The match against Chisnall won’t single-handedly decide Nijman’s season. However, it may reveal whether his dominance on the ProTour holds up when the stage changes. That is the real issue at stake today: Nijman no longer just needs to prove he can win a lot. He must now show he can do so on the big stage.
Time will tell just how far he can go, but the signs are already very clear. If Nijman gets through this first round comfortably, his World Matchplay campaign will immediately be seen in a different light: we’ll no longer be talking just about an outsider in fine form, but about a serious contender in Blackpool.
