European Tour Order of Merit Update: Aspinall succeeds Littler as leader after Göttingen success, Humphries continues poor start

By winning the European Darts Trophy, Nathan Aspinall not only claimed the top prize of 30,000 pounds, but also took over first place from Luke Littler on the European Tour Order of Merit.

Littler, who had won the Belgian Darts Open in early March, was missing from the Euro Tour tournament in Göttingen last weekend. Aspinall took the title there Sunday night by beating successively Ritchie Edhouse (6-5), Jermaine Wattimena (6-5), Luke Humphries (6-1), Gary Anderson (7-6) and Ryan Joyce (8-4). It was the first time "The Asp" had managed to win a title on the European Tour.

Joyce rose to fifth place through his final place finish. At 13,250 pounds, he only has to face Mike de Decker (16,000 pounds) and Ross Smith (14,500 pounds) for now, in addition to Aspinall and Littler.

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Behind Joyce is Gerwyn Price in sixth place with 12,000 pounds. Behind him is Dave Chisnall with 10,000 pounds, before Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen and James Wade complete the top-10 with 8,500 pounds.

Anderson and Van Gerwen made it to the semifinals at the European Darts Trophy and secured their first pounds for the rankings. Wade lost his first match in Göttingen, so his prize money does not count for the Euro Tour ranking. Wade had previously made it to the last four at the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze, however.

Number one in the world Luke Humphries has not started the new Euro Tour season very successfully and is in a shared nineteenth place with 6000 pounds. He sits alongside Cameron Menzies. He suffered a crushing loss to Nathan Aspinall 6-1 this weekend.

He finally added money onto his ranking but the late loss confounded his European Tour woes so far despite green shoots of form so far.

Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting aren't much better off. They sit in joint 21st with £6,000 each. The latter decided to skip this weekend. While Clayton ran into the wall that is physically and metaphorically, Martin Schindler.

After a crushing loss to Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries hasn't done his hopes a lot of good.

He sits 11th on the Order of Merit and has dominated German events in the past few years and is their best hope. So with Clayton he perhaps couldn't do much. Also currently just in are Rob Cross, Damon Heta among others. Peter Wright for instance has picked up no money at all so sits nowhere on the Order of Merit as of right now.

Of course a long time to put it right but Aspinall for instance who sometimes struggles to qualify for majors has already basically rubber stamped his spot in Dortmund. While also alongside Joyce feathering his World Matchplay and World Grand Prix chances no end.

At the end of the season, the top 32 players on the PDC European Tour Order of Merit may compete in the European Championship. This event will take place later this year from Oct. 23 to 26 in Dortmund.

The International Darts Open in Riesa between April 4-6 is next up on the radar and will see the third tournament of the season on the European Tour concluded no doubt with the likes of Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting back.

Albeit Aspinall will now have a choice on his hands and the same with Joyce and that is whether to attend. 'The Asp' is not shy for picking and choosing especially with his injury travails and also his stacked schedule. While Joyce simply snuck in the back door but will he take his chance to play more. Or will they both do the Gary Anderson and snub the rest of the season knowing their spot is safe.

PDC European Tour Order of Merit

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