How can the best darts player in the world not be No. 1? Luke Littler keeps winning, yet Humphries still leads the rankings

Luke Littler made history this week as he completed the elusive Triple Crown, winning the World Championship, Premier League and now the World Matchplay. In doing so he became the youngest player ever to achieve this, and only the fifth player to do so in the history of the sport.

His latest triumph came at the famous Winter Gardens in Blackpool, where he went toe to toe with ‘The Machine’ James Wade in the final. Littler who didn’t get off to the best started falling behind five legs to nil, battled back to come out victorious with a 18-3 win. The game was the most watched final since Phil Taylors victory back in 2013, the year he picked up title 14 at the Winter Gardens.

Littler’s come back in the final was something we saw throughout the tournament, coming from seven-two down to defeat Jermaine Wattimena and six-one down to beat Josh Rock. In his semi final match up Littler produced a stunning nine darter that shifted momentum and inevitably pushed Littler through to his first Matchplay final.

Darts fans all over the world are already calling him the best darts player in the world, and with his form over the last 18 months it’s hard to argue differently. He’s completed the Triple Crown, taken down the best players in the world on the biggest stages, breaking records along the way.

Despite all his achievements, the young phenomenon is still not officially world No.1 with World Cup teammate Luke Humphries taking that title. The PDC’s ranking system is based on prize money won over a two-year period, and Littler has not officially been on the tour for 2 years, meaning he’s playing catch up.

Earning roughly £1.5 million since January 2024, its fair to say that Littler is chasing that elusive title of World No.1 and is not far from doing so. Littler’s Premier League earnings of half a million pounds in the last two years are not included in earnings on the PDCs order of merit.

Having not played in previous years, littler has nothing to defend meaning he can not lose out on prize money. Luke Humphries in contrast must defend an astonishing £890,000 in prize money between the 6th of October and January 3rd of 2026.

‘Cool Hand’ Luke, will have to produce his best to defend his prize money and retain title of world No.1. After a first-round exit at the World Matchplay to Gian van Veen, Humphries needs a deep run at the World Grand Prix in Leicester or Littler could jump him to world No.1 in November at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Looking at all these different scenarios, there is a high chance that Littler could come into the World Championships which begins on the 11th of December as the official best player on the planet. The world Championships has also seen the winners prize money doubled from £500,000 to £1 million this time which would completely shift the order of merit for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Littler has long stated that one of his main ambitions in the sport are to become world No.1 alongside winning every major at least once, “the start of my career I wanted to win one of every major. There’s not that many to go”

“Obviously I don’t want him to. But we’ll just have to find out and try and add more money to my rankings.”

Littler is on course to reach his goal of winning every major once within the next few years and was asked if he’d still have the fire in his belly after completing his goal. “That’s what everybody is probably thinking once I’ve won one of everything. But for myself, I have to build on it and get multiple of everything, triple of everything. Once I win one of everything, I wont pack it in just yet”.