PDC Form Guide Update: Luke Littler well clear at the top, Humphries & Price complete top-3 with Ross Smith on the rise ahead of UK Open

Ross Smith’s recent victory at Players Championship 5 has given him a major boost in the so-called PDC Form Guide. The Englishman currently ranks among the top performers on the ProTour and looks well placed to make a deep run at the upcoming UK Open.

Smith claimed an emphatic title in Leicester, beating Chris Dobey in the final. His numbers have clearly improved since. Compared to mid-February, his average has risen by two points and his finishing efficiency (OChE) has increased by more than six percent. As a result, he has overtaken players like Gian van Veen and Dobey in the current form standings.

A key part of Smith’s strong run is his scoring power. In his last 200 legs he has produced no fewer than 90 maximums, the highest tally he has ever recorded since the Form Guide has been tracked. Only Luke Littler sits above him in that category.

Smith also belongs to a select group of players excelling on multiple fronts. He is one of just six darters with an OChE above 60 percent and one of four players with a checkout rate above 45 percent. Statistically, that puts him in the company of players also competing in the Premier League.

The UK Open draw could play a role as well. Due to the open and random format, the chance is smaller that Smith will face other players from the absolute form elite early in the tournament. That would give him an excellent opportunity to land another major TV title.

Luke Littler still leads the form standings. Yet his striking statistics do not always translate into wins. In the Premier League he recently lost to Jonny Clayton for the second time in a row. On paper, however, Littler remains one of the most dominant players of the moment. In his last 200 legs he has posted 111 maximums and an OChE of around 70 percent. That puts his scoring well above the average PDC player.

There is, however, an explanation for his recent defeats. While Littler dominates virtually all scoring metrics, he is not the most efficient player on the doubles. That honor currently goes to Clayton. In their latest meeting, the Welshman hit six of his twelve chances, a rate that matches his impressive 49.8 percent over the last 200 legs. Littler, by contrast, landed just three of his thirteen attempts.

Even so, Littler is the clear favorite for the UK Open. With a player who wins 62 percent of his legs in fifteen darts or fewer and even 94 percent within eighteen darts, opponents will find it extremely difficult to beat him over a longer match.

The Form Guide shows a notable presence of Dutch players. In five of the six Players Championship events this year, at least two Dutchmen reached the quarterfinals. That is reflected in the standings as well: four countrymen currently occupy a place in the top ten.

Wessel Nijman stands out most. The young Dutchman won Players Championship 2 and combines a solid average of over 96 with a particularly efficient finishing game. Gian van Veen continues to impress too. The talented darter has already reached six ProTour finals this season, remaining a constant factor in the closing stages of tournaments.

Kevin Doets and Michael van Gerwen also feature among the players found in the top ten of the form standings. With Nijman, Van Veen, and Doets all under the age of thirty, a new generation of Dutch contenders appears to be emerging.

Another player who has recently caught the eye is Andrew Gilding. At Players Championship 6, the Englishman showed how dangerous he can be on the big checkouts. Across two matches he produced finishes of 126, 106, 100, 123, and 104.

That last checkout also ended Smith’s impressive run of eleven straight wins. Thanks to those performances, Gilding currently ranks as the player with the most big finishes on the ProTour.

There is still work to do for “Goldfinger,” though. While his doubles are among the best on the circuit, his scoring lags behind players like Littler and Gerwyn Price. With just 50 maximums in 200 legs, he relies on chances at doubles more often than his main rivals.