Wessel Nijman has climbed above Ross Smith to a career-high 14th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder after winning the Slovak Darts Open in Bratislava.
The PDC’s latest rankings update, published after Sunday’s European Tour final, underlines how sharply Nijman’s 2026 has accelerated. The Dutchman beat Rob Cross 8-3 in the final, collected the £35,000 top prize and moved beyond Smith on the rolling two-year list.
It is another significant marker before the summer majors. Nijman’s Slovak title was his eighth PDC ranking success of the year, and the PDC noted that his total on the world rankings is now above £550,000. That is elite-company territory, especially with the World Matchplay race moving towards its July cut-off.
Why Nijman’s Latest Move Matters
Smith remains firmly in the major-event picture, but being overtaken by Nijman changes the feel of the chasing pack. Nijman is no longer simply a form player on the ProTour; he is now a top-16 seed-level threat on the main ladder.
The timing is awkward for the rest of the field. With the US Darts Masters and more ranking events still to come, Nijman has turned one standout week into a broader rankings statement. The full update is available through the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder report.
