From Luke Littler in 31st to sharp decline for Wright and Michael Smith: How the darts world changed in two years

Two years is an eternity in the darts world. Players who were knocking on the door back then can now belong to the absolute elite, while established names can slide down rapidly in a short time. A comparison between the top 16 after the 2024 World Championship and the current world rankings makes that abundantly clear.

One of the most striking developments is, of course, the rise of Luke Littler. The Englishman ranked 31st in the world after his sensational debut at the 2024 World Championship. Littler was only sixteen at the time, but immediately made his mark on the biggest stage of all. He ultimately reached the final, where he lost to Luke Humphries.

Since then, the career of “The Nuke” has accelerated dramatically. The Englishman has grown into the most dominant player on the PDC circuit and now sits comfortably at the top of the world rankings. What was a sensational breakthrough in 2024 has become the new reality: Littler is regarded as the undisputed number one in darts.

A notable development has also unfolded just behind Littler. Gian van Veen was still 43rd in the world after the 2024 World Championship. The Dutchman was already a major talent then, but still needed to make a significant step to join the established order. Van Veen has now made that leap. Thanks in part to his European Championship Darts 2025 title and his runner-up finish at the 2026 World Darts Championship, he has climbed to second place and now belongs to the absolute elite of international darts.

On the other side of the spectrum, several big names have experienced a sharp decline. Peter Wright, Michael Smith, and Dimitri Van den Bergh all still ranked in the top 16 after the 2024 World Championship. They have now all fallen outside the top 32.

That trend is particularly notable for Wright and Smith. Both players achieved major success in the past and spent a long time consistently among the world’s best. However, the past few seasons have been much tougher, causing them to tumble down the rankings.

In contrast stands the comeback of James Wade. The multiple major winner was on the edge of the top 20 after the 2024 World Championship, at 19th. Wade has since re-established himself among the very best. The Englishman reached three major finals in that period and climbed back into the top six.

It shows how quickly the balance of power in professional darts can shift. New talents can leap dozens of places in a short time, while established stars can just as quickly lose their footing. At the same time, experienced players like Wade can prove that a dip does not have to mean the end of their career.

The big question is what the next two years will bring. Will Littler maintain his dominant position? Can Van Veen grow into the number one spot? Which young talents currently outside the top 50 could belong to the world’s best in two years?

And perhaps even more interesting: which current top players will no longer be in the top 16 in two years? The comparison between 2024 and 2026 proves at least one thing: in darts, an incredible amount can change in just two years.