How Luke Littler can become world No1 THIS WEEKEND but must overcome darts hero and German boo-boys
How Luke Littler Can Become World No. 1 This Weekend: Overcoming van Barneveld and German Boos
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy and reigning PDC World Champion, stands on the brink of a seismic achievement: overtaking Luke Humphries to claim the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. Currently second with £1,181,500 in PDC Order of Merit earnings as of October 19, 2025, Littler trails Humphries (£1,895,000) by £713,500— a gap that could vanish with a deep run at the 2025 Machineseeker European Darts Championship in Dortmund, Germany (October 23-26). The £600,000 event, the culmination of 14 European Tour tournaments, awards £120,000 to the winner, and Littler’s path includes a blockbuster first-round clash against darts icon Raymond van Barneveld, followed by potential run-ins with the “German boo-boys” who have fueled his boycott of the country’s Pro Tour events. With qualification locked for the top 16 seeds, Littler’s tournament could catapult him to No. 1 before the Grand Slam of Darts, but he’ll need to channel the boos into fuel to conquer “Barney” and silence the skeptics.
Current Standings: Littler vs. Humphries – A £713k Gap
The PDC Order of Merit, updated after the German Darts Championship on October 19, 2025, shows Littler in second with £1,181,500, boosted by his £120,000 World Grand Prix win and £15,000 from Players Championship 32. Humphries leads with £1,895,000, but his lighter Pro Tour schedule leaves room for Littler to close the deficit. Littler needs **£180,000+** for No. 1—a winner’s haul (£120,000) plus runner-up (£60,000) would suffice, but a semifinal (£40,000) keeps him in striking distance for the Grand Slam (October 6-12, £400,000 pool).
| Rank | Player | Earnings | Gap to Littler |
|——|——–|———-|—————-|
| 1 | Luke Humphries | £1,895,000 | +£713,500 |
| 2 | **Luke Littler** | **£1,181,500** | – |
| 3 | Michael van Gerwen | £1,248,500 | -£67,000 |
Littler’s selective Pro Tour play (13/32 events) has preserved his health but risked PCOM spots; a strong European Championship erases that.
The Path to No. 1: Overcoming van Barneveld and the Boos
The fixed-seed draw pits Littler (No. 2) against van Barneveld (No. 31) in Round 1 on October 23 (7 p.m. CEST, Sky Sports/PDCTV). “Barney,” the 67-year-old Dutch icon and 2007 PDC World Champion, is 1-0 up in their head-to-head (2024 Players Championship 6-5), but Littler’s 2025 form (Triple Crown, Grand Prix) makes him a heavy favorite. A win earns £6,000 and a second-round vs. Ryan Joyce/Luke Woodhouse.
To win No. 1:
– **Win the Title**: £120k + £60k runner-up equivalent = £180k; overtakes Humphries (£713k gap closed).
– **Semifinals**: £40k; keeps him in Grand Slam contention.
– **Quarterfinals**: £20k; maintains momentum.
Littler’s “boo-boys” challenge: He’s boycotted Germany since April boos in Berlin (Premier League loss to Dobey) and Munich (semifinal defeat to van Veen). “The crowds there aren’t for me—it’s toxic,” he said. Dortmund’s Westfalenhallen, a passionate venue, could test him, but Littler’s vowed: “Fans are fans—I’ll let my darts talk.” Schindler’s recent “rent-free” jab (podcast quip on Littler’s absence) drew Littler’s meme clapback (“Living rent free up there”), making Dortmund personal.
| Round | Opponent | Prize | Cumulative Needed for No. 1 |
|——-|———-|——-|—————————–|
| R1 (Oct 23) | Raymond van Barneveld | £6,000 | £6,000 |
| R2 (Oct 24) | Joyce/Woodhouse | £10,000 | £16,000 |
| QF (Oct 25) | TBA | £20,000 | £36,000 |
| SF (Oct 25) | TBA | £40,000 | £76,000 |
| Final (Oct 26) | TBA | £120,000 | **£196,000** (Surpasses Humphries) |
Littler’s 2025: The No. 1 Chase in Full Swing
Littler’s year: Triple Crown (£1.5M+), Grand Prix (£120k), PC32 (£15k), Youth Worlds semi (loss to Greaves). PCOM No. 34 (£26,500) after PC32 secures Minehead (£600k, November 21-23). “No. 1’s the goal—Dortmund’s the step,” he said, his German boycott (8/8 Hildesheim skips) adding fuel. Girlfriend Faith Millar and family keep him grounded amid £2.5M+ net worth.
Fans under #LittlerNo1: “Barney R1, boos, £120k? Nuke’s unbreakable!” (150k likes). Wayne Mardle: “Littler’s vs. Barney? Classic—win it, and No. 1’s yours.” Schindler’s “rent-free” quip? Littler’s meme retort highlighted his cheek.
Littler’s weekend blueprint: Beat Barney, embrace the boos, bank the £120k. The German “hero” and “boo-boys” await—the Nuke’s ready to roar. No. 1? His for the taking.
