European Tour Order of Merit: Peter Wright makes mega leap, Michael van Gerwen rises to sixth spot

Peter Wright secured his participation in the European Championship in one fell swoop on Sunday after taking the title at the German Darts Championship. 'Snakebite' had not reached the quarterfinals once in the first eight Euro Tours of 2024, but finally proved the best at the Euro Tour event in Hildesheim.

Wright showed increasingly in recent weeks that he is on the way back after a very poor first half of 2024. 'Snakebite' further cemented his resurgence by beating successively Niko Springer (6-4), Stephen Bunting (6-5), Gian van Veen (6-4), Michael van Gerwen (6-4 with 108.90 average) and Dave Chisnall (7-4) to reach the final. In the final against Luke Littler, Wright fell behind 2-5, but after a frenzied burst, the Scot still won 8-5.

The two-time world champion was 26th on the Euro Tour Order of Merit prior to the tournament, but has now moved up to ninth place. Luke Littler remains the leader. 'The Nuke' leads the rankings with 74,500 pounds after nine of the thirteen Euro Tours, although Littler only played five of them himself.

Behind Littler, Martin Schindler is in second place with 67,500 pounds, followed by Rob Cross (58,500 pounds) and Luke Humphries (56,000 pounds). Both were absent from the German Darts Championship last weekend.

Michael van Gerwen, who went down against Wright in the quarter-finals, is now sixth on the Euro Tour Order of Merit and it is job done in rising following the latest tournament.

At the end of the season, the 32 best players in the rankings will compete in the European Championship in Dortmund. This tournament is scheduled from Oct. 24 to 27.