Niels Zonneveld is playing arguably the best darts of his career, as his strong start to 2026 continues.
The world No. 39 recently ended Luke Littler’s 12-match unbeaten run at the Belgian Darts Open with a 6-5 victory before losing in the semi-finals against Jonny Clayton.
It was the second time in March that Zonneveld had reached a semi-final of a European Tour, having tasted a 7-1 loss against Dutch rival Wessel Nijman in Göttingen a week earlier.
Nijman went on to win his maiden Euro Tour title with a dominant 8-3 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final, and that is something Zonneveld is threatening to achieve.
Niels Zonneveld needs to improve consistency
A triumph over world No. 1 Littler proved that Triple Z can mix it with the best.
Zonneveld has also recorded victories over Danny Noppert, Michael van Gerwen and Josh Rock in 2026, to name a few of the world’s top 16 he’s dispatched.
The 27-year-old must now find consistency with his game, something that was missing during the Players Championship 7 event in Leicester on Monday.
The in-form Dutchman was drawn against Sebastian Bialecki in the first round, and he almost secured victory over the Pole in some style.
THAT IS INCREDIBLE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 30, 2026
Niels Zonneveld misses D12 for a nine-darter in a last-leg decider, before LOSING the match!
Incredible scenes in Leicester, as the Dutchman misses SEVEN match darts and succumbs to Sebastian Bialecki!
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8#PC7 pic.twitter.com/NYPsld7z3R
Zonneveld was on for a memorable nine-darter after scoring 180 on each of his first two visits in the deciding leg. But he then missed double 12 to hand Bialecki what should have only been a glimmer of hope.
Bialecki still needed 265 when Zonneveld made what proved to be a costly error, as he went on to miss seven match darts before his opponent checked out on 70 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
That is one example of the Dutchman needing to discover a ruthlessness that can take him from being a strong contender in the PDC to a winner.
Zonneveld came close to a nine-darter at the UK Open
Zonneveld’s defeat in Leicester was the second time this year that he’s gone eight perfect darts into a nine-dart leg.
He wired double 12, just as he did on Monday, during his clash against Daryl Gurney at the UK Open that he went on to lose 10-7.
ZONNEVELD SO CLOSE TO THE NINE 😩
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 6, 2026
Niels Zonneveld misses double 12 for the nine-darter – and look at Daryl Gurney's reaction 😂
Live Scores & Streaming 📲 https://t.co/gFQK4rQ2wU#UKOpenDarts | R4 pic.twitter.com/rHB8ekqJIl
Gurney was even left with his head in his hands after Zonneveld was millimetres away from brilliance, only to taste what would have been a bitter defeat.
But going close to a perfect leg twice in the same month only proves what an incredible talent the Dutchman is, and he could become a major player at the big events.
