The PDC Order of Merit has undergone a seismic shift in 2025, revealing a new era in professional darts. The most striking changes include the incredible ascent of Gian van Veen to world number three, ending Michael van Gerwen’s long reign as Dutch top player, and Luke Littler’s inevitable coronation as world number one, poised for a dominant tenure. While new talents like Josh Rock and James Wade soared, established stars such as Rob Cross, Dave Chisnall, Peter Wright, and Michael Smith experienced significant drops, highlighting a dramatic changing of the guard and intense competition for Tour Card survival.
The world of professional darts witnessed an unprecedented transformation in 2025, with the PDC Order of Merit seeing more upheaval than in recent memory. The landscape has been redrawn, marking the rise of a new generation and the challenging times for many seasoned veterans.
The New Elite: Littler’s Reign and Van Veen’s Surge
The most significant story of the year is undoubtedly the confirmation of a new dominant force. While his rise to the top was anticipated, Luke Littler’s ascent from world number two to the undisputed number one spot marks a pivotal moment. With a staggering £2.7 million in prize money heading into 2026 – more than double his closest rival Luke Humphries (£1.175 million) – all signs point to Littler enjoying a reign as lengthy and impactful as those of legends Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.
Equally remarkable is the meteoric rise of Gian van Veen. Just 12 months ago, he was ranked 27th; now, he stands proudly at world number three. This incredible leap not only showcases his immense talent but also signifies the end of Michael van Gerwen’s thirteen-year dominance as the top-ranked Dutch player. Van Veen’s rapid progress firmly establishes him as one of the sport’s brightest prospects.
Breakthrough Stars and Resurgent Veterans
2025 was a year where many fresh faces finally made their mark, pushing aside some of the sport’s traditional figures. Several players made significant strides, solidifying their positions or re-establishing their presence:
- Josh Rock: Breaking out in spectacular fashion, Rock reached the semi-finals of both the UK Open and the World Matchplay, made multiple European Tour finals, and notably won the non-ranking World Cup of Darts. This propelled him from 16th to a career-high 7th.
- James Wade: ‘The Machine’ showed incredible consistency, reaching the finals of both the UK Open and World Matchplay (losing both to Littler). His strong performances moved him from 15th to 9th, putting him on the cusp of Premier League consideration.
- Ryan Searle: Achieving his goal of breaking into the Top 16, Searle jumped from 20th in December to 8th by January, thanks to a strong run at the World Darts Championship.
- Gary Anderson: The ‘Flying Scotsman’ rejoined the world’s top 10, climbing two places to 6th after a thrilling run to the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship, proving he still has what it takes.
- Danny Noppert: ‘The Freeze’ continued to display remarkable consistency, moving from 13th to 10th and firmly cementing his place among the elite.
- Jermaine Wattimena: Noppert’s compatriot had a standout year, winning two Pro Tour events and reaching the semi-finals of the Players Championship Finals, soaring from 35th to a career-high 18th.
- Wessel Nijman: Enjoyed a breakthrough year, rising dramatically from 55th to 29th.
- Krzysztof Ratajski: ‘The Polish Eagle’ had a resurgent 2025, winning on the Pro Tour, re-establishing himself on the European Tour, and reaching the quarter-finals at Ally Pally, moving to 28th.
- James Hurrell: ‘Hillbilly Jim’ surprised many, reaching the fourth round at Ally Pally and elevating his ranking from 66th to 48th, securing his Tour Card for 2026.
The Curious Case of Rising Without Dominating
Interestingly, some players saw their rankings improve despite what might be considered underwhelming years. Mike De Decker and Ritchie Edhouse both peaked in 2024 with surprise major wins. While they struggled to replicate that form in 2025, the prize money from those 2024 successes remained on their rankings, and with others around them falling, they actually climbed. De Decker rose from 24th to 19th, and Edhouse from 29th to 27th. Both will need to find consistency in 2026 to avoid a downward trend.
The Great Fallers: Established Stars Facing Pressure
While some soared, others faced significant challenges, seeing their rankings drop dramatically. The competitive nature of the PDC means that even former champions are not immune to the pressures of the Order of Merit.
- Rob Cross: ‘Voltage’ experienced a steep decline. After finishing last year’s World Darts Championship as world number four and earning automatic Premier League entry, he now ranks 20th. This drop means the former World Champion will need to compete in the opening rounds of the European Tour throughout 2026, a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change.
- Stephen Bunting: ‘The Bullet’ spent most of 2025 inside the world’s top four but finished the year in 7th place, a slight but notable dip following a disappointing loss at Ally Pally.
- Dave Chisnall & Peter Wright: Both started 2025 in strong positions (6th and 12th respectively) but missed out on Grand Slam of Darts qualification by November, having fallen out of the world’s top 16. Now ranked 22nd and 31st, they’ve lost the crucial protections of a top-16 spot and will have to battle through first-round Pro Tour events in 2026.
- Damon Heta: ‘The Heat’ continues his quest for a ranking PDC final. Despite multiple Pro Tour wins, his inability to make an impression on the biggest stages saw him drop from 8th to 17th.
- Michael Smith: ‘Bully Boy’ suffered a dramatic fall. After dropping from 2nd to 16th when his World Championship prize money expired 12 months ago, his slide continued throughout 2025 due to form and injury issues. He now clings to 32nd place, facing the prospect of competing in qualifiers for European Tour events and missing out on majors if he doesn’t defend his position.
- Andrew Gilding: Dropped from 20th to 33rd after losing the prize money from his 2024 UK Open win.
- Joe Cullen: After reaching the semi-finals of both the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, ‘The Rockstar’ hasn’t replicated that form, falling from 23rd to 35th.
- Scott Williams & Gabriel Clemens: Williams dropped from 36th to 44th, losing significant prize money from the 2023/24 World Darts Championship. Clemens also saw his earnings from the 2023 Players Championship Finals expire, causing ‘The German Giant’ to fall from 37th to 47th.
- Dimitri van den Bergh: ‘The Dreammaker’ experienced a substantial drop from 11th to 25th, compounded by physical and mental health struggles in 2025 and the expiry of prize money from his 2023 UK Open semi-final. A valuable World Masters semi-final early in 2025 might save his Tour Card, but he faces a tough challenge defending £258,000 of his £333,250 ranking prize money in 2026, with the Tour Card cut-off being £63,750.
Tour Card Survival and Departures
The battle for Tour Card survival is always fierce, and 2025 was no exception. Players outside the top 64 (who aren’t in their first year of a Tour Card) lose their professional status, leading to some heartbreaking exits and unexpected reprieves.
- Mario Vandenbogaerde: Received a late and fortunate reprieve, being promoted back to 64th in the rankings after Dom Taylor was stripped of his Tour Card, securing his professional status for another year.
- Matt Campbell: Started 2025 at 53rd but finished 66th, falling into the danger zone and losing his Tour Card.
- Jose de Sousa: The 2020 Grand Slam of Darts champion’s disappointing slump continued, seeing him fall from 45th to 82nd, marking the end of his Tour Card tenure.
Players like Niko Springer, Dominik Gruellich, and Justin Hood, despite strong individual performances (including a European Tour win and a Players Championship final appearance), started the year on zero ranking points as new Tour Card holders. While commendable, their ranking increases are a natural progression rather than an organic climb against established players, making them “winners” in a different context.
A New Chapter for Darts
The year 2025 will be remembered as a period of profound change in the PDC. The traditional hierarchy has been challenged, with emerging talents seizing their opportunities and many established stars grappling with the relentless demands of the tour. The constant evolution of darts ensures that the sport remains thrilling and unpredictable, promising even more drama in the years to come.
(Please note: This article is based on hypothetical 2025 PDC ranking changes and player performances for illustrative purposes.)
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
