Wessel Nijman beat Rob Cross 8-3 in Bratislava to win the inaugural Slovak Darts Open, with the title also sending the Dutchman up to world No.14.
The 25-year-old delivered another sharp marker in a remarkable 2026 season, closing out the final at the Incheba Expo after Cross had briefly cut the deficit to 5-3.
Nijman’s finish was ruthless. A 12-darter moved him to 7-3 before a 74 checkout on double 10 sealed the title, according to PDC Europe’s report from Bratislava.
Nijman’s 2026 Surge Has Become A Rankings Story
The result was bigger than one European Tour trophy. PDC Europe reported that Nijman collected £35,000 in prize money, became the first Slovak Darts Open champion and claimed his eighth PDC title of the calendar year.
That rise now has visible ranking weight. Nijman leaves Bratislava as the new world No.14, with a second European Tour title of 2026 adding to the pressure he can carry into the next major stretch of the season.
For Cross, the final still underlined a productive weekend, but Nijman’s finishing burst turned the story into another statement about the Dutchman’s growing place among the sport’s leading threats.
It also gives the wider ProTour picture a sharper edge. Nijman is no longer just banking titles in bursts; he is converting them into status, seeding strength and a far stronger case to be treated as one of 2026’s most dangerous matchplay opponents.
