PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit Update: Big names including Littler, Anderson, Van Gerwen struggle as Nijman leads

Wessel Nijman has significantly strengthened his lead at the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit after securing his fourth ranking title of the season in Wigan this week as big names falter.

On Tuesday, Nijman won Players Championship 10 after victories over Martin Lukeman (6-4), Justin Hood (6-2), Adam Gawlas (6-0), Niels Zonneveld (6-3), Beau Greaves (6-2), Luke Woodhouse (7-4) and Scott Waites (8-2).

Earlier this year, Nijman also captured Players Championship 2 and Players Championship 8, while he additionally reached the final of Players Championship 4. He also claimed the title at the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, marking his first Euro Tour crown.

The PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit comprises prize money won at all floor events and the Euro Tours over a rolling 365-day period. At the end of 2025, Nijman also won two Players Championship events, and those titles still count toward the current Pro Tour ranking. In the standings, Nijman sits comfortably on top with £219,250 in prize money.

Chris Dobey, who won Monday’s other Players Championship event, is second with £162,500. There is then a small gap to third-placed Nathan Aspinall on £149,750. “The Asp” still has a substantial amount of prize money to defend on the Euro Tour this season, where he lifted three titles last year.

Behind Aspinall the gaps are narrow, with just £17,250 separating third from ninth. Ross Smith and Gerwyn Price occupy fourth and fifth, followed by Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Danny Noppert and Luke Humphries in close pursuit.

Two-time world champion Luke Littler is only 13th on £110,000. “The Nuke” regularly skips Pro Tour events, leaving plenty of opportunities for prize money on the table. Due to his frequent absences from the floor circuit, Littler only just qualified for the Players Championship Finals last year.

Gary Anderson has slipped to 28th place. Like Littler, “The Flying Scotsman” skips many Pro Tour events and is rarely seen on the Euro Tour. There is more prize money available there than on the floor events, which makes it harder for Anderson to maintain a high position on the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Michael van Gerwen is only just inside the top 32 of the Pro Tour ranking, in 31st. This coming weekend marks 12 months since Van Gerwen last won a Pro Tour title. Former world champions Raymond van Barneveld (37th), Michael Smith (38th), Peter Wright (39th) and Rob Cross (40th) are even outside the top 32 and risk missing several majors again in 2026.