High stakes in PDC Order of Merit as Luke Littler closes on historic £3m and Gian van Veen eyes world No.2

The World Matchplay quarter-finals will have major consequences for the PDC Order of Merit, with Luke Littler closing on an unprecedented £3 million ranking total and Gian van Veen potentially replacing Luke Humphries as world number two.

Behind them, James Wade, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock and Gary Anderson all retain routes towards fourth place. Ross Smith could climb as high as fourth by lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy, while Dirk van Duijvenbode can potentially rise 15 positions from his pre-tournament ranking.

The live Order of Merit has already removed prize money from the 2024 World Matchplay and credited the eight remaining players with the £35,000 guaranteed for reaching this year’s quarter-finals.

Littler entered the World Matchplay with an enormous advantage at the top of the rankings. His victories over Niko Springer and Nathan Aspinall have increased his provisional Order of Merit total to £2,953,500.

A semi-final place would take that figure to £2,983,500, leaving him just short of the milestone. Reaching Sunday’s final would increase his total to £3,043,500, making him the first player to hold more than £3 million on the two-year PDC Order of Merit.

Defending the title would take Littler to £3,143,500. His position as world number one is already guaranteed regardless of what happens against Rock in Thursday’s quarter-final.

Van Veen’s dramatic 14-12 victory over Wessel Nijman moved him to £968,500. He remains third behind Humphries, whose provisional total has fallen to £1,008,000 following his opening-round defeat to Cameron Menzies.

Victory over Wade would lift Van Veen to £998,500. He would remain third and sit only £9,500 behind Humphries.

Reaching the final would take the Dutchman to £1,058,500, enough to move above Humphries and become the new world number two. It would also make Van Veen the third current player to hold a seven-figure total, alongside Littler and Humphries.

A first World Matchplay title would increase his ranking money to £1,158,500. Van Veen cannot challenge Littler for top spot, but he can leave Blackpool as the leading player in the chasing group.

Jonny Clayton currently occupies fourth place with £684,500, but his 11-7 defeat to Anderson has left that position vulnerable.

Wade has already climbed provisionally from sixth to fifth despite defending the £100,000 he earned by reaching last year’s final. His current total of £657,250 leaves him £27,250 behind Clayton.

A quarter-final victory over Van Veen would take Wade to £687,250 and move him into fourth by £2,750. Reaching another Blackpool final would increase his total to £747,250, while winning the tournament would leave him on £847,250.

Price has provisionally slipped from seventh to eighth despite reaching the last eight. A semi-final place would move him to £665,000 and potentially as high as fifth, depending on the result between Van Veen and Wade.

The Welshman would be guaranteed to climb to fourth by reaching the final, when his total would stand at £725,000. Winning the title would raise that to £825,000.

Rock is involved in the same congested section of the rankings. He currently sits seventh on £639,500, only £4,500 ahead of Price and £3,500 behind Michael van Gerwen.

Beating Littler would move Rock to £669,500 and potentially fifth. A place in the final would take him to £729,500, while a first major title would guarantee fourth place with £829,500.

Anderson has moved above Ryan Searle into 11th following his victories over Ryan Joyce and Clayton. His provisional total now stands at £601,750.

Victory over Van Duijvenbode would take the Scot to £631,750 and ninth place. Reaching the final would raise his total to £691,750, giving him a possible route to fourth depending on the identity of his opponent.

Winning a second World Matchplay title would guarantee Anderson fourth place on £791,750. He began the tournament ranked 12th and carrying questions over his limited schedule, but two more victories would return him to the world’s top four.

Smith remains 15th despite advancing to the quarter-finals following Menzies’ withdrawal. His ranking would not change significantly with a semi-final appearance, but the rewards increase sharply if he defeats Price and then overcomes either Van Veen or Wade.

Reaching the final would lift Smith six positions to ninth with £625,250. Victory in Blackpool would take him to £725,250 and potentially as high as fourth, although he would finish fifth if Rock ended the tournament as runner-up on £729,500.

Van Duijvenbode has already made the largest provisional climb among the quarter-finalists, moving from 28th to 25th after his extended victories over Chris Dobey and Van Gerwen.

A win against Anderson would move him to 23rd. Reaching the final would lift him to 19th, while the title would propel him to 13th with £585,750.

Van Duijvenbode therefore carries the widest possible ranking range into the quarter-finals. He could leave Blackpool in 25th after Thursday night or complete a title run that moves him 15 places above the position from which he entered the tournament.