PDC Form Guide Update: Luke Littler the undisputed number one, but Gian van Veen steps up

With the Grand Slam of Darts kicking off this weekend in Wolverhampton, PDC statistics analyst Christopher Kempf takes a look at the PDC's 10 biggest stars based on their performances over the past 200 legs.

Chris Dobey is undoubtedly one of the men to keep an eye on. By clinching his title at Players Championship 33 and reaching the semifinals a day later, the 35-year-old Englishman not only secured a spot in the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts, but also reached 4th place in the PDC Form Guide, his best ranking this year.

An increase of 6.09 points in his Overall Check Efficiency (OChE) rating moves Dobey into third place in leg-winning efficiency, above names such as Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price. His average is higher than at any time during his Premier League Darts campaign, and a whopping 85 maximum scores puts him in the top five in the PDC.

While these statistics alone would not be enough to earn him a guaranteed spot in the 2026 Premier League Darts, Dobey shows that he has made the most of his Pro Tour season to put himself even more on the map. 'Hollywood' seems to be on top form at the right time for Wolverhampton.

Wessel Nijman also impressed. After his victory at Players Championship 34, the 25-year-old Dutchman reached his highest OChE ranking ever. Based on his recent form, he would win 61.2% of his legs against Pro Tour opponents.

However, the competition at the Grand Slam of Darts will be higher than the average on the Pro Tour. Still, only Luke Littler, Gian van Veen and Dobey are more efficient at winning legs. With an average of 96, Nijman remains in fifth place among Dutch players despite his strong numbers. That shows the enormous depth of Dutch talent in the PDC.

The last time Nijman and Van Veen met at the Grand Slam of Darts last year, it was a tough duel for Nijman. His average of 111 proved not enough to secure a victory in the group stage. That underlines how difficult it is to become the number one seed in the Netherlands in a field full of world class players.

Martin Lukeman experienced an unforgettable Grand Slam of Darts last year. He beat two world champions, reached the final and cashed £70,000 - the biggest check of his career. Repeating such a feat this year, however, seems a lot more challenging. Lukeman is currently only 100th in terms of average out of 128 PDC Tour Card holders.

Still, his doubles percentage of 40.7% offers hope. That is the 20th highest percentage in the PDC, and even higher than that of world champion Luke Humphries. So for the darter from Watford, there is still a chance for magic in Wolverhampton. Should he wish to take revenge for his earlier 16-3 defeat in the final against Luke Littler, it will have to happen in the short group stage, and he will have to meet the world champion on a not so good day.

Luke Littler currently dominates the efficiency rankings with an OChE of 67.5 and seems almost unbeatable at the moment. With such a 25-point lead over his closest competitors, he will be hard to beat during the Grand Slam of Darts. So for players like Lukeman and Nijman, it will be a huge challenge to beat Littler, especially in the short group format where small mistakes can weigh heavily.

The Grand Slam of Darts 2025 promises to be an exciting clash between established stars and emerging talents. Chris Dobey appears to be in top form and could be a serious contender for overall victory. Wessel Nijman is showing that Dutch talent can also compete internationally, while Martin Lukeman is looking to repeat his magic from 2024 despite statistical setbacks. Luke Littler, however, appears to be the man to beat for now.