The numbers don’t lie: Luke Littler, Gian van Veen and the 2026 World Darts Championship averages that defined an epic edition at Ally Pally

The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship will be remembered for Luke Littler’s ruthless title defence, but the list of highest match averages from Alexandra Palace paints an even richer picture of who truly operated at elite level across the three week tournament.

From Littler’s relentless consistency to Gian van Veen’s explosive breakthrough and Gary Anderson’s late career resurgence, the numbers underline why this edition of the Worlds felt like a genuine changing of the guard.

At the top of the list sits Gian van Veen, whose 108.28 average in Round 2 remains the highest single match standard of the entire championship.

That performance proved to be no outlier. Van Veen appears three times in the top ten averages, including his quarter-final and semi-final, reflecting how his run to the final was built on sustained scoring power rather than one hot night.

His demolition of Luke Humphries in the quarter final was the moment many viewers reassessed the balance of power in the draw, and the averages confirm that assessment. Van Veen was not surviving matches. He was overwhelming opponents.

While Van Veen owns the single highest match, Luke Littler dominates the list through volume and consistency.

Four of the top ten averages belong to the reigning champion, including:

107.09 in Round 3

That spread matters. Littler did not peak early and fade, nor did he rely on favourable draws. His standard remained north of 105 as the format lengthened and pressure intensified, culminating in a final performance that underlined just how far clear he was of the field on the biggest night.

The data reinforces what the scorelines suggested. This was not simply a successful title defence. It was a technically dominant one.

Among the newer generation, Gary Anderson stands out as the reminder that pedigree still matters at Ally Pally.

His 105.41 average in Round 2 places him inside the elite bracket, and that level carried him deep into the tournament, including a semi final appearance. Anderson’s run combined heavy scoring with clinical finishing, and his numbers compare favourably with players more than two decades his junior.

In a championship that leaned heavily towards youth, Anderson’s presence among the very highest averages served as a reminder that experience still converts when the stage grows bigger and the format grows longer.

Taken together, the highest match averages from this World Darts Championship strip away reputation and focus purely on performance. They show that Van Veen’s run to the final was built on genuine elite-level scoring rather than a favourable path, and that Littler’s second world title was underpinned by repeatable excellence across multiple rounds, not just one standout night.

They also underline how veterans like Anderson were still capable of matching the very best on raw numbers, while breakthrough names such as Justin Hood, whose 103.01 average in Round 2 earned him a place on this list, demonstrated that their deep runs were backed up by serious quality rather than fleeting momentum.

In a World Championship shaped by expansion, pressure and relentless scheduling, the averages reveal a tournament where the best darts consistently rose to the surface. More than any single result, they offer a snapshot of a sport in transition, with a new generation asserting itself without yet fully displacing the old.