Darts legend Mensur Suljovic has raised a crucial alarm: the sport’s ranking system is facing unprecedented distortion because many of its biggest stars are increasingly absent from vital European Tour events. This trend, driven by a packed schedule of Premier League, World Series, and lucrative exhibition matches, combined with specific travel challenges and a risk-averse prize money structure, allows lesser-known players to climb the ranks faster. While this creates opportunities for new talent, it sparks a debate about whether the system now rewards mere availability over elite performance, potentially eroding the prestige of these once-dominant tournaments.
Mensur Suljovic Sounds the Alarm
After a recent victory, ‘The Giant’ Mensur Suljovic didn’t mince words. He expressed frustration that top-tier players are increasingly absent from European Tour events, allowing lower-ranked competitors, like himself, to advance. “The top players have to be there; they have to,” he stated. “Now someone like him or me can win. Hello? That shouldn’t happen if all the top 16 are there.” This isn’t just a casual remark; Suljovic highlights a significant problem affecting the integrity of darts rankings.
The Growing Absence: Who’s Missing Out?
The issue became particularly apparent at the recent Graz event, where a significant number of elite players were missing. These included:
- Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries
- Gerwyn Price
- Gary Anderson
- Nathan Aspinall
- Stephen Bunting
- Jonny Clayton
Such widespread absences from a major event raise serious questions about the fairness and accuracy of the current ranking system.
Why Are Top Players Skipping Events? Multiple Factors at Play
The reasons behind this trend are complex, stemming from a combination of scheduling pressures, financial incentives, and even personal comfort.
1. The Packed Schedule: Premier League, World Series & More
The darts calendar is busier than ever. Top players are juggling multiple high-profile commitments:
- Premier League: A demanding weekly league that runs for months.
- World Series: Prestigious global tournaments in locations like the US, Nordic regions, Australia, and New Zealand, which are commercially valuable and often prioritize top names.
- Players Championship events: Regular, often less glamorous, tournaments contributing to rankings.
With the Premier League campaign nearing its end, there’s traditionally a slight easing of pressure, but the overall global schedule remains relentless. This leaves elite players with little choice but to be highly selective about where they compete.
2. The “Risk vs. Reward” of European Tour Prize Money
A major disincentive for top players lies in the specific rules for European Tour rankings. While seeded players who lose their opening match still receive prize money (e.g., £5,000), they get no ranking credit for those earnings. This creates a genuine dilemma:
- A player travels across Europe.
- They might lose their first match (in the second round, as seeds get a bye).
- They earn £5,000, but gain zero ranking points.
For elite players already earning substantial amounts from the Premier League and World Series, the financial incentive of a potential early European Tour exit appears relatively minor compared to the guaranteed earnings and ranking benefits of other major commitments. It’s a significant risk of time and travel for potentially no ranking gain.
3. Travel Challenges and Player Comfort
Beyond the schedule and prize money, practicalities and personal preferences also play a role:
- Luke Littler’s German Experience: The world number one has openly expressed discomfort with sections of German crowds. Whether directly linked or not, Littler has largely avoided European Tour events held in Germany in 2026. This highlights how player comfort can influence scheduling decisions.
- Post-Brexit Travel for UK Players: In recent months, many UK players faced delays and difficulties at European airports due to new entry requirements. While these concerns have reportedly eased, they contributed to the reluctance of some to travel.
4. The Rise of Lucrative Exhibition Events
Another significant factor is the booming popularity of exhibition events. Fans are increasingly keen to see their favorite stars in smaller, more intimate venues. These events offer lucrative appearance fees that can be more financially appealing than risking an early European Tour exit with no ranking reward. For some top players, these commitments are now directly competing for space in an already overflowing calendar.
The Impact: Distorted Rankings and New Opportunities
Suljovic’s concern about “fluctuating rankings” is valid. When top players are consistently absent, it naturally creates a less competitive field, making it easier for other players to progress and accumulate ranking points.
However, this situation also presents a silver lining for emerging talent. The current European Tour structure, while still favoring seeded players who can enter later and gain points quickly from deep runs, now offers a clearer path for dedicated, consistent performers.
Wessel Nijman is a prime example of this shift. By consistently appearing and performing strongly in floor events, the Dutchman has surged into the top 16 of the year-to-date rankings. This demonstrates that players willing to travel weekly and fully commit to the schedule can now find genuine routes into major televised events.
The Core Question: Availability vs. Elite Performance?
Ultimately, Suljovic’s criticism boils down to a fundamental question: Is the current structure rewarding availability as much as elite performance?
The PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) might argue that player freedom is crucial within an increasingly global and packed calendar. However, the optics are undeniable when televised European Tour events frequently lack multiple top-10 names before a single dart is even thrown.
Suljovic yearns for a past era when the European Tour was a true proving ground, with the biggest names consistently present. “Back in 2017 and 2018, the top 16 always won,” he recalled. “Now the rankings fluctuate too much.”
The future direction of the Darts Tour will likely depend on whether the PDC views these ranking fluctuations as a problem to be solved or merely an inevitable side effect of the sport’s global expansion. Whatever the perspective, the “Darts Divide” is a conversation that won’t be going away anytime soon.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
