Pro Tour Order of Merit update: Littler, Van Gerwen outside top 10 with big trouble for Cross, Michael Smith and Wright
The PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit, which determines seeding and qualification for major events based on prize money from Players Championship and European Tour events over the past 12 months, has undergone significant changes as of September 16, 2025, following the conclusion of Players Championship 27. Surprisingly, two of darts’ biggest names—reigning world champion Luke Littler and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen—find themselves outside the top 10, highlighting the intense competition and the impact of recent performances. Meanwhile, established stars like Rob Cross, Michael Smith, and Peter Wright are in “big trouble,” languishing far below the top 16, which guarantees automatic qualification for the first two European Tour events of 2026. This update, based on the latest PDC standings, underscores the Pro Tour’s unpredictability and the pressure on veterans to adapt.
## Littler and Van Gerwen: Giants Slipping Down the Ladder
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old sensation who dominated 2025 with six major titles including the World Championship (£500,000) and Premier League (£315,000), sits at No. 11 with £136,500 in Pro Tour earnings. Despite his televised success, Littler’s Pro Tour haul has been modest compared to floor tournament grinders, placing him just behind Wessel Nijman (£139,000) at No. 10. Littler’s focus on high-profile events like the World Matchplay and Grand Slam has paid dividends in the main Order of Merit (where he’s No. 2 overall), but the one-year Pro Tour list rewards consistent Players Championship runs.
Even more startling is Michael van Gerwen’s position at No. 14 with £120,500. The Dutch icon, who ended a two-year TV title drought by defeating Littler 11-7 in the World Series of Darts Finals final on September 14 (£80,000), has struggled on the Pro Tour circuit. Van Gerwen’s 2025 has been inconsistent, with early exits in several Players Championships and European Tour events, dropping him inside the top 16 but vulnerable to being unseeded for 2026’s opening floors. “Mighty Mike” has won just one Pro Tour title this year, a stark contrast to his dominant 2010s era.
The top 10 remains stacked with in-form players: Jonny Clayton leads at £155,000, followed by Josh Rock (£152,000), Luke Humphries (£147,500), Ross Smith (£144,000), Damon Heta (£141,000), and Nijman. Humphries, the world No. 1, holds steady at No. 3 despite recent form dips, thanks to steady Pro Tour earnings.
Big Trouble for Cross, Smith, and Wright: Veterans in Peril
The update spells danger for several big names hovering far below the top 16, which secures automatic entry to the first two European Tour events of 2026 (potentially Hungarian Darts Trophy and German Darts Grand Prix). Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion, is in dire straits at No. 20 with £77,500, a sharp drop from his early 2025 form. Cross has struggled with consistency, winning just one Pro Tour title this year and facing early exits in majors like the World Matchplay.
Michael Smith, the 2023 world champion and former No. 1, is even lower at No. 34 with limited earnings, hampered by injuries that sidelined him for chunks of 2025. “The Profile” has only one Pro Tour win this year, putting his seeded status at risk and potentially forcing him to qualify for events—a far cry from his dominant 2023.
Peter Wright, the two-time world champion (2020, 2022), is in the deepest trouble at No. 37 with £62,500. “Snakebite” has had a dismal year, with no Pro Tour titles and early knockouts in most events, compounded by form slumps and equipment changes. Wright’s slide from the top 10 earlier in 2025 is alarming, and he risks missing automatic qualification for 2026 majors if he doesn’t rally in the remaining Players Championships (up to PC34 in October).
Other notables in jeopardy include Raymond van Barneveld at No. 21 (£76,000), who has struggled since returning to the PDC, and Chris Dobey at No. 18 (£85,000), clinging to the top 20. The Pro Tour’s rolling 12-month format means poor recent results hit hard, rewarding grinders like Rock and Heta.
Implications for the End of 2025 Season
With only a handful of Players Championships left (PC28-34 in October) and the European Tour winding down, the race for the top 16 is heating up. Littler and van Gerwen, despite their major hauls, must grind on the floors to climb back—Littler has expressed frustration at the Pro Tour’s demands, focusing on televised events. For Cross, Smith, and Wright, the stakes are higher: falling outside the top 16 means qualifying for 2026’s opening Euro Tours, a blow to their status.
PDC chief Barry Hearn noted the competitiveness: “The Pro Tour is where stars are made—it’s unforgiving.” As the World Grand Prix (October 7-12) approaches, these rankings will influence seeding. Littler’s “problem” of balancing majors and floors, as Hearn called it, mirrors the veterans’ struggles, setting up a dramatic close to 2025.
The full standings are available on PDC.tv, updated after each event. With £25 million in total prize money this year, the Pro Tour’s volatility ensures no one’s spot is safe.
