European Tour Order of Merit Update: Ross Smith snatches lead from Josh Rock after maiden title, big names languish outside top 32

It was a dramatic end to the International Darts Open, and a brilliant on of you are Ross Smith. The former European Champion broke his European Tour duct by defeating Ryan Searle 8-3 in the final to clinch the title and break new ground.

‘Smudger’ had been perilously close many times before, reaching and losing four finals before. However, his day with destiny finally struck and he clinched a maiden European Tour title which subsequently moved him to the top of the European Tour Order of Merit with a massive £75,000 won.

As it occurred, Josh Rock, the winner of the Austrian Darts Open, drops down to second spot thanks to an early exit hampering his progress in Riesa. He sticks on the £61,000 he already earned this year.

The gap to Smith is a seismic one. Although qualification for the European Championship is a small one in his mind barring the position he is in, the top spot he owned for a couple of weeks has been swiped away by the Englishman who is top by £14,000 thanks to his heroics in Riesa.

Wessel Nijman seals the top three. He exited early to the hands of James Wade but still managed to extend his gap to the absent Gerwyn Price. The four-time champion was a late withdrawal, pulling away any chance of gaining any money on the European Tour.

Similar to Price, Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries did not bother to show up. They stay fifth and sixth in the standings albeit with one Euro Tour title in 2026 to their name.

Danny Noppert’s progress was minimal as he slots into seventh before the world number one Luke Littler appears on the ranking. The two-time world champion has only played in two events but partially due to his title in the Poland Darts Open he fits in at eighth.

Dutch duo Kevin Doets and Niels Zonneveld complete the top 10. Michael van Gerwen can only manage 13th, behind Jonny Clayton in 12th who did not make the trip. Martin Schinlder and world number three Gian van Veen follow close behind. The world Championship finalist won his first match as the number one seed on the European Tour although he would bow out at the quarter-final stage to a certain Searle. The Englishman still waits for a maiden Euro Tour title but slots in at 17th.

As we go down the order, the 2025 champion Stephen Bunting slots in at 32nd and has work to do over the next few months with James Wade a position ahead of 'The Bullet.' Joe Cullen moves out of the top 32 with Dave Chisnall languishing just behind in 35th. He could only manage averages in the mid-80s in a torrid weekend for the eight-time European Tour champion.

The likes of Peter Wright and Mike De Decker sit 76th and 82nd with just £3,500 earned. Raymond van Barneveld is not even in the top 100.

The European Tour continues on the weekend of May 29, 30, and 31 with the Baltic Sea Darts Open in Kiel. Price begins the tournament as defending champion after defeating Gary Anderson 8–3 in last year’s final.

(as per dartsrankings.com)