The 2026 PDC Players Championship series is underway, featuring 34 tournaments across the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, with all 128 Tour Card holders eligible to compete. The season began on February 9-10 in Hildesheim, Germany, with further stops scheduled in Wigan, Leicester, Milton Keynes, and Den Bosch.
James Wade claimed the title at Players Championship 1, defeating Nathan Aspinall 8-6 in the final. Wade averaged 93.69 to Aspinall's 95.26. In the semi-finals, Wade edged Michael van Gerwen 7-6 (93.32 average to 96.9), while Aspinall beat Adam Gawlas 7-4 (96.15 to 93.13). Quarter-final wins included Van Gerwen over Jack Tweddell 6-3, Wade over Joe Cullen 6-5, Aspinall over Gabriel Clemens 6-1, and Gawlas over Wessel Nijman 6-4.
At Players Championship 2, Wessel Nijman emerged victorious, narrowly defeating Gerwyn Price 8-7 in a high-quality final where Nijman averaged 102.78 to Price's 107.41. Price reached the final by beating Krzysztof Ratajski 7-4 in the semis, while Nijman overcame Ryan Searle 7-2. Price's quarter-final included a stunning 6-0 whitewash of Michael van Gerwen, averaging 117.12 to Van Gerwen's 99.63.
Each event offers a total prize fund of £150,000, with the winner receiving £15,000, the runner-up £10,000, semi-finalists £6,500, quarter-finalists £4,000, last 16 finishers £3,000, last 32 £2,000, and last 64 £1,250. The field comprises all 128 Tour Card holders, with top-ups from the Challenge Tour, such as Beau Greaves, who earned a spot due to her high placing on that tour in 2025.
Expert predictions see Gerwyn Price and Wessel Nijman as leading contenders. Samuel Gill of DartsNews.com picks Price to top the Order of Merit, citing his ProTour consistency, and also highlights Damon Heta, Ross Smith, and Nijman as perennial winners, with Jimmy van Schie tipped as a surprise package. Mats Leering of DartsNieuws.com predicts Nijman could become the surprise number one on the Order of Merit, with Price, Martin Schindler, Heta, and Ryan Searle also expected to perform well. Both pundits suggest Luke Littler and Luke Humphries may not feature heavily enough to make the top 64, while veterans like Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright could struggle.
