Ross Smith has placed himself in a very select group after his recent European Tour victory. The Englishman is only the fourth player this season to win both a Players Championship event and a Euro Tour tournament, putting him alongside some of the biggest names in the PDC, plus one standout Dutch revelation.
Smith is enjoying another excellent year on the professional circuit. The former European champion has regularly reached the latter stages of events in recent months and has now converted that strong form on the European stage. His recent European Tour title — Smith won the International Darts Open last weekend — underlines once again that the Englishman is among the most dangerous players right now, especially when he couples his trademark heavy scoring with solid finishing.
With his double, Smith joins an exclusive group of just four players. Strikingly, that list is topped by Wessel Nijman, who is in the midst of a true breakout year within the PDC. The young Dutchman has already won no fewer than five Players Championship tournaments in 2026 and has also added a European Tour event to his tally. In terms of titles, Nijman currently stands head and shoulders above the competition. For Dutch darts fans, Nijman’s emergence is one of the season’s best stories. The Uitgeest thrower has long been seen as a huge talent, but this year he seems to be finally delivering on that immense potential. Nijman has been almost unstoppable on the floor. His consistently high averages and mature presence impress colleagues and analysts, while his performances on the big stages are becoming increasingly stable.
Alongside Nijman, world-class operator Luke Humphries and former world champion Gerwyn Price also belong to the select group of players who have tasted success both on the floor and on the European Tour. Humphries has already won two Players Championship events and one European Tour title this season, while Price has likewise claimed one title in each category. The fact that these four names are rising to the top says a lot about the current balance of power within the PDC. Humphries continues to be a model of consistency week after week, while Price once again shows he still belongs to the absolute elite when he hits his best level. The presence of Smith and especially Nijman in this group also shows that the field is widening and that new players are firmly entering the battle for the biggest titles.
For Smith, his recent success could be an important step towards the major televised tournaments later this year. The 37-year-old Englishman will try to add a second major to his résumé after his 2022 European Championship title. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, eyes will remain fixed on Nijman. The young Dutchman keeps breaking records and looks well on his way to the best season of his career. If he can maintain this form heading into the majors, 2026 could well be the year he fully breaks through to the sport’s absolute world elite.
