Order of Merit shake-up coming: Why 2026 is make-or-break for Van Gerwen, Van den Bergh and Cross among others

The year 2026 promises to be a turning point in the PDC world. Not only because a new generation is increasingly making its presence felt, but especially because prize money is being significantly increased, which will have major consequences for the world rankings. Higher amounts not only mean more opportunities for climbers, but also extra risk for established names who have a hefty sum to defend.

The PDC Order of Merit remains based on prize money earned by players over the past two calendar years. Those who won big tournaments or reached finals in that period will see those amounts drop off the rankings in 2026. And that’s precisely where the shoe pinches for several notable names. Players who must defend more than 50 percent of their current prize money, and aren’t in their best form, could go into free fall.

Let’s start at the top. Michael van Gerwen, a three-time world champion and for years the face of global darts, faces a crucial year. The Dutchman has to defend no less than £477,000 in 2026. That’s 69 percent of his current ranking total of £691,000.

That figure includes £100,000 from the World Matchplay, £200,000 from the World Darts Championship, and two European Tour titles. Those are numbers you usually associate with absolute dominance. But anyone who has watched Van Gerwen closely over the past year knows his invincibility has faded. There are scenarios in which “Mighty Mike” drops out of the top four. In fact, if his season mirrors the last one, even a spot near the lower end of the top 16 isn’t unthinkable.

A few years ago, that would have been unimaginable. Now it’s a real talking point. Not because Van Gerwen is poor, but because the competition is stronger and the margins are smaller than ever. In recent days, Van Gerwen did show he is ready for a strong year. He lifted the title at the Bahrain Darts Masters, although that is a non-ranking event and therefore doesn’t count toward the world rankings.

Another interesting case is Mike De Decker. The Belgian hit a peak with a major title two years ago, but 2025 was anything but consistent. That is now hurting him on the rankings.

De Decker is currently 19th in the world and has thus dropped out of the seeded positions. That means no automatic entry for major tournaments and dependence on the Pro Tour Order of Merit. And that’s exactly where he sits on the brink of the top 16.

He must defend a total of £267,000, or 64.7 percent of his prize money. At the World Grand Prix alone, £120,000 is at stake. In addition, results from the Grand Slam of Darts, multiple majors, and a Pro Tour title will drop off.

If that money falls off the rankings without adequate replacement, De Decker could even slide outside the top 32. While the top 32 no longer carries the same status since the Worlds expanded to 40 players, it remains a psychological threshold. The reality is this: De Decker must perform to stay relevant.

Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion, also finds himself in dangerous waters. The Englishman is currently 20th in the world and has to defend £212,000 of his £389,000, good for 54.5 percent.

There were bright spots. At the last World Championship, Cross put up stern resistance against sensation Luke Littler. But beyond that, his season looked fragile. His game particularly fell apart at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead. The cold may have played a role, but more importantly, his technique was visibly unstable.

That is a familiar issue for Cross. If his throw and timing aren’t perfectly aligned, his level drops off a cliff. His ceiling is exceptionally high, but only when everything clicks. Heading into 2026, he will have to work extremely hard in preparation to rebuild that foundation. If he doesn’t, a drop outside the top 32, or rather, out of the safe zone for qualifiers, looms.

Perhaps the most concerning name on this list is Dimitri Van den Bergh. The Belgian has slipped to number 25 in the world and must defend a staggering £260,000, that’s 78 percent of his total prize money.

That defensive burden includes a UK Open title, a semifinal at the World Grand Prix, a quarterfinal at the World Matchplay, and a Players Championship title.

The past year was downright poor. Where Van den Bergh could previously hide behind the argument that he “hadn’t given everything,” that excuse has now disappeared. He went to the Worlds well prepared, but for the first time even there he failed to produce a result.

That has consequences not only in sporting terms but also mentally. Continuously looking over your shoulder at players closing in affects an athlete. The scenario in which Van den Bergh drops toward the bottom of the top 64, or even loses his PDC Tour Card, is no longer doom-mongering, but a realistic possibility.

Ritchie Edhouse is also under pressure. He has to defend £251,000 (77 percent), while he earned only £72,000 last year, even with the benefits of his ranking position. Without a clear uptick in form, he could easily tumble back toward places 50 to 60.

The same applies to Martin Lukeman. His surprise run to the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts final against Luke Littler brought him a lot of prize money, but also a problem: 67 percent of his ranking (£152,000) will drop off in 2026. Without a repeat of that success, a sharp decline awaits.

The increased prize money theoretically makes defending amounts a bit easier, but only for one season. After that, the effect will be felt across the board. For players with a lot of “old money” on the rankings, 2026 is not a transition year, but an examination.

Those who fail will fall hard. Those who pass can reposition themselves at the top. The coming majors will not only award titles, but make or break careers. One thing is certain: the Order of Merit will look completely different at the end of 2026 than it does now.