Who's hit the highest TV averages for a whole calendar year? Van Gerwen dominates list, Littler eyeing top spot

The last decade has seen some of the highest averages in the history of darts, with records being broken all over the place, by the older generation and the younger stars. To average over 100 in a match proves you are a special player, but to average it over a year shows you should be recognised as one of the greatest.

Darts Orakel have tweeted the highest TV averages for a calendar year in the last 10 years. The data shows two generations of darts players colliding, with a change of guard starting to emerge.

There is no surprise that Michael van Gerwen features multiple times on this list. The three-time World Champion takes up half of the highest calendar year averages, as well as holding three of the top five positions, conveying the dominance he once experienced.

The Dutchman leads the list with an astonishing 103.38 average accomplished in 2017. His 2018 and 2016 averages closely follow this in third and fifth, respectively. In fact, between 2015-2020, only his 2019 average (100.52) fails to feature on this list, undoubtedly reinforcing his claim as one of the best to ever pick up a dart.

Despite this only being his second year as a professional, the 18-year-old wonderkid finds both his 2024 and current 2025 campaigns on this list. In this period, The Nuke has won six majors, including the World Championship, the Premier League and most recently the World Matchplay, averaging over 105 in the tournament.

He is currently averaging 102.91, which slots him in second just behind van Gerwen. With the numbers he has been hitting these last few months, Littler poses a real threat to the Dutchman's top spot. To do that, he will need to carry on playing at the extortinate level he has produced this year, showing off how good that 2017 year was for van Gerwen.

His 2024 average is almost as impressive, placing him seventh in the last 10 years. His explosive scoring, accurate double hitting and consistent levels have set him up to dominate the coming years in the sport, as he threatens to dominate this list this time in 10 years.

It would come as no shock that the great Phil Taylor finds himself on this list. Despite coming to the end of his luxurious career, he still managed to average 102.18 in 2015, almost a point ahead of van Gerwen's 2015 campaign, showing off his longevity and consistency on stage.

He did drop off slightly in 2016, but an average of 101.02 still finds himself eighth on this list. This would put him slightly ahead of his rival Gary Anderson, who, despite winning the World Championships in 2015 and 2016, enters with his 2017 average of 100.79. He squeezes on the list in ninth ahead of van Gerwen's 2020 average.

He may not have won a major title that year, but consistent world-class performances and ridiculous scoring show why he will go down in history as one of the best. To compete with Phil Taylor and prime van Gerwen is no easy feat, but Anderson was up to the task, and with some of the averages he has been producing recently, we could even see the 54-year-old threaten this list again sometime in the future.