World Matchplay 2026 could significantly shake up the world rankings: Van Gerwen at risk of a major drop, Littler has a chance to make darts history

The World Matchplay 2026 gets underway this weekend. From July 18 to 26, the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool once again provides the stage for one of the year’s most prestigious darts tournaments.

Only the World Darts Championship holds a higher status on the PDC calendar, which is why many players and fans often describe the World Matchplay as the “summer Worlds.”

That image is further amplified this year by the increased prize fund. For the first time in history, a whopping one million pounds in prize money will be distributed in Blackpool. While that is only twenty percent of the World Championship’s prize fund, the World Matchplay features just 32 players compared to 128 at the Worlds.

Every participant is guaranteed £12,500, while the eventual winner walks away with a £225,000 check. Precisely because the amounts rise so steeply in the latter stages, the World Matchplay can traditionally trigger major shifts on the PDC Order of Merit.

The PDC Order of Merit is based on the prize money earned by players over the past 24 months. This means that the results from the 2024 World Matchplay drop off the rankings after this edition. Every player must therefore defend their performance from two years ago.

It’s also worth noting that the prize fund was lower in 2024. A total of £800,000 was distributed at the time. Simply taking part then earned £10,000, while the winner received £200,000. With the prize fund now increased to one million pounds, it’s possible this year to make extra gains even if players match their 2024 result. For several big names, however, an awful lot is at stake.

Of all participants, Luke Humphries has by far the most prize money to defend. The Englishman won the World Matchplay in 2024 and must therefore defend a hefty £200,000 on the world rankings.

Despite that enormous amount, Humphries will not immediately lose his second place on the PDC Order of Merit if he goes out early. His lead over world number three Gian van Veen will, however, shrink considerably. Without that £200,000, the gap is just £62,000.

That means Van Veen can realistically dream of climbing to second in the world during this World Matchplay. To do so, the Dutchman needs at least a final appearance, while Humphries must be eliminated before the semi-finals.

Blackpool will also be a crucial tournament for Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman reached the final in 2024 and therefore defends £100,000. For Van Gerwen, the consequences of an early exit are even greater than for Humphries. That hundred grand represents a much larger percentage of his total prize money on the rankings. Virtually, the three-time world champion would drop back to sixth place.

In fact, the gap to the world number ten would then be just £28,750. If Van Gerwen crashes out in the first round and his rivals post strong results, he could easily slip towards tenth place on the world rankings.

It’s not just the players in the field who must defend prize money. Several well-known names who failed to qualify this year will see a significant amount come off.

Michael Smith reached the semi-finals in Blackpool in 2024 and earned £50,000. Because “Bully Boy” did not qualify this year, that entire amount drops off his ranking. As a result, Smith will in any case fall from 33rd to 35th on the PDC Order of Merit.

Dimitri Van den Bergh will also see a big chunk come off his ranking. The Belgian made the quarter-finals two years ago, worth £30,000. As he is missing this edition, “The DreamMaker” will in any case slide from 39th to 46th in the world.

Beyond Humphries, Van Gerwen, Smith, and Van den Bergh, several others are defending sizeable sums. Ross Smith, Andrew Gilding, and Rob Cross also reached the quarter-finals in 2024 and must each defend £30,000. Unlike Smith and Van den Bergh, they do have the chance this week to secure that prize money again.

James Wade is also among those defending a solid amount. The experienced Englishman made the semi-finals two years ago, putting £50,000 on the line.

In addition, multiple big names automatically lose their 2024 appearance fee because they did not qualify for this edition. Peter Wright, Ricardo Pietreczko, Daryl Gurney, Raymond van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan, and Ritchie Edhouse all saw their World Matchplay run end in the first round two years ago. They now each forfeit £10,000 on the world rankings.

While some players are under pressure to match previous results, for others the opposite is true. They have little or no prize money to defend and can therefore make significant gains on the world rankings.

That applies first and foremost to Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Kevin Doets, William O'Connor, Niko Springer, Niels Zonneveld, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Cameron Menzies. They missed the 2024 World Matchplay and thus start with no prize money dropping off their ranking.

For these eight players, simply taking part already means a minimum boost of £12,500 on the PDC Order of Merit. For Kevin Doets, William O'Connor, Niko Springer, and Niels Zonneveld, it will also be their debut at the prestigious tournament in Blackpool.

Luke Littler also officially belongs to the players with virtually nothing to defend. The now two-time world champion made his World Matchplay debut in 2024. Expectations were already enormous then, but the English teenage sensation was knocked out straight away by Michael van Gerwen.

That defeat earned him £10,000 at the time. Since the appearance fee has now been raised to £12,500, Littler will move up by £2,500 on the world rankings this year regardless of his result.

It doesn’t stop there. During the World Matchplay, Littler can also become the first player ever to reach the £3 million mark in prize money on the PDC Order of Merit. To hit that historic milestone, he needs a runner-up finish in Blackpool.

Alongside Littler, Danny Noppert, Gary Anderson, Josh Rock, and Gian van Veen were also knocked out in the first round in 2024. They therefore have almost no prize money to defend and can start the tournament without the pressure of a large amount dropping off their ranking. Every win for these players translates almost directly into a rise on the world rankings.

That applies to a slightly lesser extent to Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, Jonny Clayton, and Stephen Bunting. They fell in the second round two years ago and earned £15,000 at the time.

With the increased appearance fee of £12,500, they effectively only have £2,500 to defend. So Blackpool also offers ample opportunities for these players to gain ground.

Precisely because the gaps on the PDC Order of Merit are relatively small just below the top, the World Matchplay could trigger a major reshuffle this year. There is just over £100,000 between fourth and fourteenth place. As a result, one strong tournament can be enough to climb several spots at once.

Wessel Nijman may be the best example. The Dutchman starts the World Matchplay as world number fourteen, but has no prize money to defend. If he manages to reach the final, he could well jump to fourth place in the world rankings.