Darts World Shocker: Why Legends Are Lagging Behind on the ProTour!
The PDC ProTour Order of Merit has delivered a stunning surprise: relative newcomer Wessel Nijman is currently leading the pack, while many of darts’ most celebrated superstars – including Luke Littler, Gary Anderson, and Michael van Gerwen – find themselves surprisingly low in the rankings. This unexpected shake-up highlights that consistent prize money from floor and European Tour events is paramount on the ProTour, often outweighing individual reputation or sporadic major wins.
The Unstoppable Rise of Wessel Nijman
The biggest story isn’t just that Wessel Nijman has climbed to the number one spot; it’s the significant gap between him and many established stars. Nijman’s consistent performances across the demanding ProTour circuit, which includes both ‘floor’ events (Players Championship tournaments) and the European Tour, have propelled him to the top.
Currently, Nijman sits comfortably at the summit, with his closest competitors being:
- Chris Dobey: Second with £162,500
- Nathan Aspinall: Third with £149,750
The top nine is a tightly packed group, also featuring formidable names like Ross Smith, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Danny Noppert, and Luke Humphries. This demonstrates that for this specific ranking, sustained performance and regular prize money collection are key, often outperforming players who might win bigger, but less frequent, titles.
Where Are the Superstars? A Shocking Reality Check
While Nijman dominates, some of darts’ most recognizable faces are surprisingly far down the list. This isn’t a reflection of their overall skill, but rather their consistency in earning prize money specifically from the ProTour events.
The Unexpected Positions:
- Luke Littler: Despite his meteoric rise and incredible talent, ‘The Nuke’ is currently only 13th with £110,000. This position seems remarkably low for a player of his recent status and success in major televised events.
- Gary Anderson: ‘The Flying Scotsman’, a two-time World Champion, finds himself even further down at 28th with £75,750.
- Michael van Gerwen: Perhaps the most surprising of all, ‘Mighty Mike’ is a mere 31st with £71,000, barely clinging to a top-32 spot.
For these three titans of the sport, their positions serve as a stark reminder: on the ProTour Order of Merit, reputation alone counts for very little if the prize money isn’t picked up regularly enough from the dozens of non-televised events throughout the year.
Former World Champions Outside the Top 32
The surprises don’t end there. Further down the list, several former world champions and major winners are completely outside the top 32, highlighting the immense depth and competitiveness of professional darts today.
- Raymond van Barneveld: 37th
- Michael Smith: 38th
- Peter Wright: 39th
- Rob Cross: 40th
This picture truly underlines just how competitive and unforgiving the ProTour circuit has become. Every single event counts, and a dip in consistent performance can quickly see even the biggest names slide down the rankings.
The New Era: Consistency Reigns Supreme
Right now, this is undeniably Nijman’s table. While others with bigger names and more glittering trophy cabinets continue to hover lower than expected, he is the man everyone else is chasing. His current form and relentless pursuit of prize money on the ProTour circuit have created a very real gap at the top, signaling a shift where consistent, grinding performance is rewarded above all else.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
