Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries fighting for world number one spot at World Darts Championships after Michael Smith's elimination

Michael van Gerwen enters the new year as the virtual number one of the world. Only Luke Humphries can keep 'Mighty Mike' from reclaiming the top spot on the PDC Order of Merit for good.

Michael Smith (last sixteen), Nathan Aspinall (second round) and Gerwyn Price (last 32) also had a chance at the number-one position prior to the World Darts Championship, but were eliminated early in the tournament. Only Van Gerwen and Humphries are still vying for the prestigious number one spot. The two top players are currently in the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship and can meet in the semifinals. The winner of that duel will be number one in the world rankings after the World Darts Championship.

Rob Cross has moved up to sixth position thanks to his quarterfinal finish. A final or world title will see him rise to fourth. Dave Chisnall has returned to the world's top-10. With a win over Humphries at the last eight, 'Chizzy' moves up to seventh place. A final spot even beckons the top four.

Chris Dobey will make his debut in the top-16 of the world rankings after the World Darts Championship anyway. Should 'Hollywood' reach the final, Dobey will even enter well into the top-10. A world title even puts the Englishman in the top four in the world. Brendan Dolan is also still in the tournament. Remarkably, despite his quarterfinal spot, the Northern Irishman has not moved up one spot in the world rankings. The History Maker will do so if he beats Luke Littler in the quarterfinals. Dolan will then move up to 23rd place.

Scott Williams has made considerable progress anyway. He started the tournament as number 52 in the world and is now virtually in 35th place. With a win over Michael van Gerwen in the quarterfinals, Williams moves up further to 30th place.

Finally, we have 16-year-old prodigy Luke Littler in the tournament. He started the World Darts Championship as number 164 in the world. Meanwhile, Littler rose to 72nd place. However, he needs to get into the top-64 to leave his earned prize money in the world rankings. If he beats Dolan, Littler will end up in spot 50. Looking even further, Littler could end up in the 30th spot upon reaching the final. A world title will put Littler in the top-10 of the world rankings.