PDC Order of Merit Update: Big trouble looms for former World Champions as Luke Humphries set for first test in Littler World No.1 battle

After last week's three Players Championship tournaments, there are still quite a few shifts on the PDC Order of Merit heading into the World Grand Prix, although the top-10 of the world rankings remained virtually intact.

In the top-10, Chris Dobey was the only player to gain a new position. He shared seventh place with Gerwyn Price, but is now in eighth place. Luke Humphries still leads the rankings with 1,804,750 pounds, but will have to defend his final victory of two years at the World Grand Prix. Luke Littler is chasing the number-one position in the coming weeks and is currently in second place with £1,545,500. Michael van Gerwen follows well behind in third place with £742,250.

Behind the top three, the differences are a lot smaller. Number four Stephen Bunting admittedly still has a sizeable margin over number five James Wade (£662,000). However, the differences between Jonny Clayton (£532,000), Gerwyn Price (£526,750), Chris Dobey (£524,500), Rob Cross (£517,250) and Josh Rock (£503,750) are a lot smaller.

Ross Smith, who took the title at Players Championship 29 on Wednesday, is nearing a return to the top-10 of the world rankings and has already climbed to 12th place. Smith briefly ranked in the top-10 last year, but fell back after prize money won from his 2022 European Championship title disappeared from the rankings. He began the 2025 year as No. 21 in the world, but has thus already moved up nine places this season.

His rise this week comes at the expense of Gary Anderson and Danny Noppert, who both had to give up a spot. Noppert, meanwhile, feels compatriot Gian van Veen on his tail. Van Veen earned 5500 pounds in prize money at the three floor tournaments in Leicester, making his debut in the top-16 of the PDC Order of Merit. With his fifteenth position, Van Veen is just one spot behind Noppert, so 'GVV The Giant' is fast becoming the second Dutchman in the world rankings.

Meanwhile, Peter Wright's position is under increasing pressure. 'Snakebite' currently holds the sixteenth spot on the PDC Order of Merit and needs to defend his European Championship title from two years ago later this month. If not, Wright is in danger of dropping out of the top-25 of the world rankings.

Ryan Searle, winner of Players Championship 28 on Tuesday, retained his 19th spot and can look up next week at the World Grand Prix because number eighteen Dave Chisnall did not qualify for the double-in double-out tournament.

Wright is not the only big name in trouble, as Michael Smith and Dimitri van den Bergh also threaten to give up positions in the coming weeks. Both players will not be there at the World Grand Prix and the European Championship.

Number 23 Nathan Aspinall may soon pass the pair, while Jermaine Wattimena is also moving up. The Dutchman is already 24th in the world rankings and, like Aspinall, will be there at the World Grand Prix and the European Championship. The same goes for Ryan Joyce and Daryl Gurney, ranked 25 and 26 in the world.

Cameron Menzies is almost in the top-32 of the world rankings for the first time after 12 good months. 'Cammy' has now moved up to 33rd place, and is only 3,000 pounds behind Dirk van Duijvenbode's 32nd place.

Menzies finds himself sandwiched between two Dutchmen, as the 34th spot is held by Raymond van Barneveld. Wessel Nijman is also well on his way to a spot inside the global top-32. After winning Players Championship 30, Nijman is in 38th place. Shortly behind him are also Kevin Doets (42nd) and Niels Zonneveld (43rd). The latter moved up one spot after last week's Players Championship tournament.

Mario Vandenbogaerde's Tour Card is still a bit less certain, but 'Super Mario' did good business with a final at Players Championship 28. Vandenbogaerde is still 69th in the world rankings, but has already qualified for the Players Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship. On the virtual ranking after the World Darts Championship, Vandenbogaerde is now 62nd, which would be just enough to retain his Tour Card.

That requires a spot in the top-64 of the PDC Order of Merit. Players are given two years after earning a PDC Tour Card to work their way into the top-64. Niko Springer (65th) is already going to do that in one year, while Bradley Brooks (71st) may also achieve this handsome feat.