PDC Form Guide Update: Luke Humphries far and away World No.1 in 'alternative rankings' with bleak picture for James Wade and Gian van Veen

With the World Matchplay just around the corner, PDC statistician Christopher Kempf has once again taken stock of the field. Based on each player's last 200 legs, Luke Humphries remains the form player heading into Blackpool. The former world champion not only tops the overall Form Guide but also leads the OChE Rating rankings, a statistic that measures how efficiently a player converts scoring power into winning legs.

Humphries has averaged an outstanding 102 over his last 200 legs, giving him a lead of almost three points over Luke Littler, who sits second with a 99 average. Behind the English duo, there is then a significant gap to the rest of the field.

Gerwyn Price still boasts an excellent scoring average of 98, but his doubling continues to let him down. With a checkout percentage of 37.62%, the Welshman sits only just above the PDC Tour average, meaning his OChE Rating is considerably lower than his scoring average would suggest.

A number of big names are heading to Blackpool with less convincing statistics. James Wade, last year's World Matchplay runner-up, is only just inside the top 16 of the Form Guide. Gian van Veen fares even worse statistically and, based on his recent numbers, does not rank among the leading contenders for the title.

Alongside Humphries and Littler, it is Wessel Nijman, Stephen Bunting and Ross Smith who stand out most in the statistics. Nijman, in particular, catches the eye. The Dutchman is the only player this calendar year to have won more PDC ranking titles than Littler.

He also tops the rankings for finishes of 99 or more, an important indicator of players capable of delivering at crucial moments. His OChE Rating is also among the highest in the field, showing how efficiently he converts his scoring ability into winning legs.

Ross Smith is another player with outstanding statistical numbers, although the draw has not been kind to him. Seeded 15th, he could face Humphries as early as the second round, provided the world No. 2 first gets past Cameron Menzies.

Stephen Bunting also faces a difficult route. The Englishman could meet defending champion Luke Littler in the quarter-finals, setting up a potential clash over the best-of-31-leg format against one of the strongest players on the circuit.

Another notable name in the statistics is Rob Cross. The former world champion has slipped to 21st in the world rankings, but his recent form shows clear signs of improvement. Although his average dipped to just over 97 at the start of July, Cross excels in the moments that decide matches. He owns the highest doubles percentage of any Tour Card holder, which places him third in the OChE rankings.

Those numbers actually make Cross the statistical favourite for his opening-round clash with Danny Noppert. Although the Dutchman is seeded and won their most recent meeting, the statistics strongly favour the Englishman. The biggest difference comes on the doubles, where Noppert is ranked only 95th among all Tour Card holders.

Outside the World Matchplay field, there is another player making waves. Connor Scutt may have missed out on qualification for the prestigious Blackpool event, but he is the biggest climber in the Form Guide. Thanks to an outstanding weekend in the European Tour qualifiers, the Englishman won eight consecutive matches to qualify for the 11th and 12th European Tour events of the season. Along the way, he produced averages of over 103 and secured his place in the tournament in Prague.

With an average of 97.74 across his last 200 legs and an OChE Rating of over 60%, Scutt now ranks statistically among the strongest players on the PDC circuit. If he can maintain this level of form, a debut at the European Championship appears to be only a matter of time, while qualification for the Players Championship Finals also looks well within reach.