‘It’s not in comparison anymore’ – Van Gerwen calls for major change to darts rankings ahead of World Championship

Michael van Gerwen has ignited major debate in the darts world after calling for significant changes to the sport’s ranking system ahead of the upcoming World Darts Championship. The Dutchman believes the current structure — which is based entirely on prize money — no longer reflects true player performance and needs urgent reform.

Van Gerwen: Prize Money Has Distorted the System

With the 2026 World Championship offering a record-breaking £1 million to the winner, Van Gerwen argues that the surging prize funds have thrown the traditional merit-based balance out of shape.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, he stressed that the rankings can no longer be judged fairly when one event dwarfs all others financially.

“It’s not in comparison anymore,” he said. “When one tournament is worth so much more than the rest, the rankings don’t show who is the most consistent or the best over the year. One big win shouldn’t decide everything.”

A System Built on Money — But Is It Still Fit For Purpose?

The PDC’s two-year Order of Merit is simple: the more prize money a player wins, the higher he’s ranked. For years, the system has been praised for rewarding both excellence and consistency.

But with top events now offering eye-watering sums, Van Gerwen believes the gap has become too large to ignore. A single deep run at Ally Pally could vault a player far above rivals who’ve been consistent all season.

The Dutchman says the system risks “misrepresenting the true hierarchy of talent.”

Littler & Humphries Rise Fueling the Debate

The timing of Van Gerwen’s comments has raised eyebrows. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries — the sport’s two dominant forces in 2025 — have climbed to the top of the rankings largely through huge prize hauls from major finals and titles.

With Littler now a global superstar and Humphries consistently reaching finals, some fans believe Van Gerwen’s criticism is sparked by pressure from a new generation overtaking him.

The three-time world champion denies this, insisting the issue is about fairness, not rivalry.

Calls for a Points-Based System

Van Gerwen is urging the PDC to consider moving closer to a points-based ranking system, similar to tennis or snooker — a structure that rewards consistent performance without allowing one event to dramatically outweigh the rest.

Under such a system, tournaments would carry set values instead of being tied to prize money.

“The sport is growing, the money is growing, but the rankings should grow with it,” he argued. “We need something that reflects performance, not just financial value.”

A Debate That Won’t Go Away

The conversation has split opinion among players and fans:

• Traditionalists believe that prize money rewards players for delivering when it matters most.
• Reformists argue that the system unfairly inflates the rankings of major-only performers and punishes those who excel throughout the season.

With the World Championship just weeks away — and its £1 million top prize set to reshape the standings again — the debate is only intensifying.

All Eyes on Ally Pally

Whether or not the PDC makes changes after the tournament remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Van Gerwen has pushed the ranking debate firmly into the spotlight.

And with Littler, Humphries and MVG all battling for supremacy on the biggest stage of all, the World Championship could prove exactly why the system needs to evolve — or why it should stay exactly the same.