Dutch surge threatens Van Gerwen and Littler at World Matchplay
A new generation of Dutch players, led by Wessel Nijman, is poised to disrupt the established financial and competitive hierarchy at the 2026 World Matchplay, where Michael van Gerwen faces a costly ranking drop.
The 2026 World Matchplay begins on Saturday at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with the Professional Darts Corporation facing a significant shift in its competitive and financial hierarchy. Reigning champion Luke Littler returns to defend his title, but the tournament is defined by the pressure on former champions and the sudden dominance of Dutch professionals on the tour's order of merit.
Michael van Gerwen arrives under severe pressure, defending £100,000 in world ranking prize money earned from his 2024 final appearance. A first-round elimination against Andrew Gilding on Sunday would push the three-time champion down to world number seven. Gilding has proven a difficult opponent, having beaten Van Gerwen in the 2023 UK Open final and again last month in Bratislava on the European Tour.
The most significant threat to the top seeds comes from Wessel Nijman, who has qualified as a top-16 seed entirely through his ProTour winnings this year. The 26-year-old has claimed six Players Championship titles and two European Tour trophies in 2026, maintaining a running average above 95 across those victories. Bookmakers have installed him as the third favourite behind Littler and Luke Humphries, signalling expectations that his floor success will finally translate to a deep major tournament run.
Fellow Dutchman Niels Zonneveld will also test the elite, making his tournament debut against an out-of-form Stephen Bunting. Zonneveld earned his place through the ProTour order of merit, bolstered by becoming the first player to defeat Littler in a ranking event this year. That 6-5 victory at the Belgian Darts Open featured a 147 checkout in the deciding leg and an average exceeding 100.
The tournament's concluding first-round match on Monday features Rob Cross against Danny Noppert, highlighting the fine margins of the professional darts economy. Noppert missed out on the lucrative 2026 Premier League despite a strong 2025 and has since struggled for form, while Cross has reversed his own slump by winning Players Championship 22 to secure his spot.
Littler remains the favourite to retain the trophy and join Phil Taylor and Van Gerwen as the only players to win back-to-back titles in Blackpool. Having already secured the World Championship, UK Open and Premier League this year, the teenager opens his campaign against Niko Springer on Saturday. All nine days of the event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, underlining the commercial scale of a sport increasingly defined by its cross-border European rivalries.
