PDC Form Guide Update: Luke Littler slips but chasing pack still nowhere near as Gerwyn Price and Luke Woodhouse shine
PDC
Luke Littler remains the undisputed statistical number one in the PDC. PDC Stats Analyst Christopher Kempf reviewed the last two hundred legs of the sport’s biggest stars and reaches a clear conclusion: the pack is closing in, but “The Nuke” is still a class apart in the game’s key departments.
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The 19-year-old world champion tops both the average leaderboard and the so‑called OChE (Ordinal Checkout Efficiency, a metric that tries to measure how efficiently a player turns scoring into legs won). Littler also leads the count of scores from 171 up to 180. Only on doubles does he have to cede top spot to one player. Jonny Clayton is currently the PDC’s most efficient finisher.
There is, however, a small silver lining for the chasers. Statistically, Littler is no longer at the near‑otherworldly level he produced at the World Matchplay. His average over the last two hundred legs has dipped from the previous mark of almost 106. His OChE has also fallen from a sensational 73.
That does not mean Littler has suddenly become vulnerable. Far from it. He remains the only player averaging over a ton across the last two hundred legs. His OChE lead over the number two is a hefty eight points. Even players close to him in scoring power are not matching his efficiency.
Price climbs into second place
Behind Littler, Gerwyn Price has cemented himself in second. The Welshman benefited from his strong Czech Darts Open, where he reached the semi‑finals. That run lifted his OChE by more than two points.
Price is closely tracked by Nathan Aspinall, who impresses above all with his consistent leg construction. “The Asp” blends heavy scoring with sharp setups and reliable finishing, which has brought his OChE to within touching distance of Price.
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The numbers also underline that the field still trails Littler by a clear margin. Yet the gap is smaller than it was a few months ago. For the other 127 Tour Card holders, that may be the main positive: Littler is still the favourite, but his stats are no longer inhuman.
PDC Form Guide — Last 200 Legs
| Rank | Player | AVG | 171-180 | 99, 101+ C/O | Doubles |
| 1 | Luke Littler | 101.57 | 98 | 15 | 44.90% |
| 2 | Gerwyn Price | 98.48 | 68 | 8 | 43.36% |
| 3 | Luke Humphries | 98.14 | 68 | 13 | 40.66% |
| 4 | Nathan Aspinall | 96.81 | 72 | 12 | 39.91% |
| 5 | Chris Dobey | 96.56 | 86 | 15 | 37.20% |
| 6 | Gary Anderson | 96.44 | 77 | 6 | 37.05% |
| 7 | Rob Cross | 96.33 | 59 | 8 | 37.81% |
| 8 | Luke Woodhouse | 96.24 | 81 | 9 | 42.07% |
| 9 | Ross Smith | 96.13 | 73 | 11 | 43.72% |
| 10 | Dirk van Duijvenbode | 95.83 | 81 | 13 | 38.57% |
Woodhouse makes a huge leap
One of the biggest surprises in the analysis is Luke Woodhouse. The Englishman took a major step forward in August. His average jumped by 4.69 points to 96.24. That puts him ahead of a large chunk of this season’s Premier League Darts cast.
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Even more striking are his leg‑efficiency numbers. Woodhouse sits fifth in the OChE rankings and wins a remarkable 87 percent of his legs within eighteen darts. He is outpacing Luke Humphries on that measure and sits just behind Littler.
His Players Championship results back up the statistical surge. In his last three appearances, Woodhouse reached at least the quarter‑finals each time. His current profile suggests he can win about 59 percent of his legs against ProTour opposition.
That makes him a dangerous outsider heading into the Flanders Darts Trophy. Woodhouse may not carry the same aura as Littler, Humphries or Michael van Gerwen, but his numbers show he currently ranks among the circuit’s most efficient players.
Luke Woodhouse delivered excellent performances in recent weeks
Clayton proves average isn’t everything
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Jonny Clayton is a particularly intriguing case in this analysis. The Welshman ranks only twentieth in the PDC with a 94.62 average, yet he is number one for finishing efficiency.
That makes Clayton the only player currently more clinical on the doubles than Littler. His OChE shows his ability to close legs quickly is far greater than his average suggests.
Clayton is winning as many as 41 percent of his legs within fifteen darts. For comparison, the PDC‑wide figure sits at just 29 percent. The Welshman does not always need eye‑catching scoring to seize legs at top speed.
Clayton is also deadly on the big finishes. He has already produced seventeen ton‑plus checkouts. That makes him a threat not only from classic finishes like 40, but also from 140 in three darts.
Bissell shows how vital doubles are
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Tom Bissell underlines how important it is to combine all facets of the game. The current world number 74 ranks among the elite secondary tier for scoring power.
Over his last hundred legs, Bissell has thrown more than eighty maximums. His 95.67 average is excellent as well. Yet he sits only 28th in the OChE standings.
The reason is his finishing. With a 34 percent doubling rate, Bissell ranks just 89th in that department. His case shows that a high average alone is not enough to win tournaments. To lift big titles, you must hit your doubles.
OChE reveals hidden strengths
That is precisely why the OChE metric is so compelling. It does not simply reward the highest average; it measures how efficiently players convert scoring into legs won.
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The statistic estimates what percentage of legs a player would be expected to win on the ProTour, factoring in checkout probabilities after four, five, six and seven visits to the board.
That explains why players like Clayton can rank so highly despite a less spectacular average. It also shows why Bissell, despite huge scoring power, loses ground due to inconsistency on the doubles.
Looking ahead to the Flanders Darts Trophy, one conclusion stands firm: Luke Littler remains the statistical benchmark for the rest of the PDC. His level has dipped slightly, but even that lower gear is exceptionally hard to match.
The question at the Flanders Darts Trophy is therefore not only who can post the highest average, but above all who can get closest to The Nuke’s efficiency. Littler himself is not in the field this weekend, which opens the door for others to land a Euro Tour title.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- Well,I suppose if you don't play the tournaments ,then why should any player qualify? There are players who enter every tournament,and if they don't win it,they carry on, spending money they haven't won,yet certain players seem to think they should qualify. Winners only I thinkrick6714-11-2026
- Everyone knows what a fantastic champion Taylor was,but his performances in the seniors were poor. He wouldn't throw littler off stage,as he'd miss these days!!rick6712-11-2026
- He produced some impressive numbers in that qualifying campaign. I'm excited to see him compete at the World Championship once again, even if it will be difficult to replicate last year's success even with an improved performance, with the draw playing a huge role in determining his fortunes.Deduce635811-11-2026
- I often think about this very question. I think they should revive the format. They could even invite representatives from MODUS Super Series, with four series winners from the past year, and the ADC, with finalists from the Global Championship and perhaps other events. Why not throw in eligible representatives from the JDC and even the soft-tip game too?Deduce635811-11-2026
- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026