PDC Form Guide: Luke Humphries falls down the pecking order, resurgent Kim Huybrechts overtakes Luke Littler as Wessel Nijman knocks harder on the door

Luke Littler continues to set the pace in the Premier League Darts, but beneath the surface the balance of power at the top is shifting. That emerges from an extensive statistical analysis by Christopher Kempf, who has examined the form of PDC players based on the last 200 legs under the microscope.

Most striking is the dip from Luke Humphries, who despite his status as reigning Premier League champion currently sits outside the play-off spots. After nine nights, the Englishman is only sixth and needs to make up ground.

According to Kempf’s numbers, his efficiency in winning legs has noticeably declined. His so-called OChE rating, a measure of effectiveness, has dropped to 60.63. That still puts him fourth worldwide, but it is the largest decline of any player in this period.

It is especially his doubles that are letting him down. With a success rate of 35.6 percent on the outer ring, he ranks only mid-table within the PDC over his last 200 legs. That contrasts sharply with his scoring power, as Humphries still ranks among the absolute elite in terms of averages.

Where Humphries is losing ground, Wessel Nijman is showing he is ready for the next step. The Dutchman is currently his country’s top performer and the only Dutch player to have won ranking titles in 2026.

With two Players Championship wins and a European Tour title in Göttingen, Nijman has firmly put himself on the map. His numbers underline that rise. Over his last 200 legs he posts a 98.9 average and wins a large share of his legs within fifteen darts.

Only two players in the PDC are more effective at closing out legs within four visits. Moreover, within the current Premier League lineup only Jonny Clayton is more accurate on the doubles.

Although Nijman still sits just outside the world’s top twenty, his entry into the top ten seems only a matter of time if he maintains this trajectory.

Another name prominently featured in the analysis is Keane Barry. The young Irishman stands out as the most improved player of the past month.

Barry enjoyed a strong spell on the Pro Tour, dispatching established names such as Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith, and Krzysztof Ratajski en route to the semi-finals of Players Championship 7.

Those performances were followed by a last-16 berth at the next event and qualification for his first European Tour event of the year. In three days, Barry recorded eleven wins, a tally he had not reached earlier in the season.

Most notable is his return on the doubles. Barry is currently the most clinical finisher on the outer ring within the PDC, even dislodging Clayton from first place. His statistical progress is significant, with a four-point rise in averages and an eight-point jump in effectiveness.

He is now operating close to the world elite and looks capable of becoming a serious challenger to players on the biggest stage.

Kim Huybrechts also appears unexpectedly in the numbers. The Belgian, who has been without a title for several years, seems to be in the midst of a career resurgence.

This season, Huybrechts has already qualified for four European Tour events and recorded a notable win over Josh Rock at the Belgian Darts Open. His scoring power stands out.

In his last 200 legs he fired in no fewer than 89 maximums, surpassing even Littler for 180s. During a qualifier for the Austrian Darts Open he produced six maximums in nine legs, an exceptionally high rate.

Although that scoring surge does not always translate into deep runs on the floor, his improved numbers suggest he will increasingly turn matches in his favour.