European Tour Order of Merit Update: Josh Rock takes lead from Wessel Nijman, trouble for Wright, Wade and Van Barneveld

The sixth tournament of the 2026 European Tour took place in Graz last weekend. The Austrian Darts Open title went to Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, who defeated Dutchman Kevin Doets 8–6 in a high-quality final.

For Rock, it was his first PDC ranking title of the year and the second European Tour title of his career, having previously won the Dutch Darts Championship in 2024. Thanks to his victory at the Austrian Darts Open, Rock also moves to the top of the European Tour Order of Merit. He has already earned £61,000 on the European Tour this year.

In the process, Rock takes over top spot from Wessel Nijman who now sits second. The Dutchman who did play over the weekend unlike many of the top names won the European Darts Trophy earlier this year but was eliminated in his opening match. He now trails Rock at the top by £8,000.

The top three is now completed by Gerwyn Price. The Welshman skipped this past weekend to play exhibitions like Aspinall, Humphries and Littler and have a weekend off aside from that and has already won the European Darts Grand Prix so it is quite easy to see why. He is £11,000 behind Rock but is still in a strong position.

In fourth and fifth place are Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries respectively, two more players who were notable by their absence this past weekend. However, both Aspinall and Humphries already won a European Tour event earlier this year and therefore remain in the top five of the European Tour Order of Merit. Like Price, they played exhibitions throughout the UK instead.

Kevin Doets after making the final is in tenth. He has had a superb week winning his maiden ProTour and also reaching a European Tour final and has now catapulted himself into the higher echelons of the ranking. Luke Littler also remains in the top 10 despite playing very few tournaments. “The Nuke” sits in eighth place with a tidy £40,000 in prize money, mainly thanks to his victory at the Poland Darts Open.

Albeit certain players are in quite a lot of trouble further down. Dave Chisnall currently sits 34th and is outside the qualification spots. After leading them in previous years, it has not been as easy and he has yet to kick back into gear. James Wade too who has won the title had some success at the weekend but still isn't in the spots. He is 35th on the European Tour Order of Merit and sits one place ahead of Ryan Searle.

Things are even worse for Peter Wright. The two-time former world champion is down in 61st place, and the signs he has shown in recent months have offered little encouragement. Raymond van Barneveld also looks bleak sat down in 88th.

The European Tour continues on the weekend of May 22, 23, and 24 with the International Darts Open in Riesa. Stephen Bunting begins the tournament as defending champion after defeating Aspinall 8–5 in last year’s final.

(as per dartsrankings.com)