LUKE LITTLER is in danger of losing his grip on top spot in the year-to-date PDC Order of Merit despite enjoying one of the most successful televised campaigns in darts history.
The world No.1 has amassed an incredible £260,000 in ranking prize money this season after winning every televised Premier event on the PDC calendar.
However, the 19-year-old has deliberately scaled back his ProTour commitments, competing in only two events this year – the Belgian Darts Open and the Polish Darts Open.
That limited schedule has handed Dutch star Wessel Nijman the opportunity to close the gap dramatically.
Nijman has surged to second in the year-to-date standings with £246,000, fuelled by an astonishing run that includes six Players Championship titles and two European Tour victories.
While the Dutchman has been unable to replicate that form on the televised stage, managing just one win in major events all season, his relentless consistency on the floor has put him within striking distance of Littler.
The 24-year-old now sits just £14,000 behind The Nuke and could move to the top of the standings after Littler chose to skip Players Championships 23 and 24 in Leicester.
Ranked world No.14, Nijman is producing one of the most dominant floor campaigns in recent years. His performances have even drawn comparisons with the peak ProTour dominance of Michael van Gerwen a decade ago.
Having reached seven of the 22 Players Championship finals this season, Nijman will head into next week’s events as the favourite to overhaul Littler if he maintains his remarkable form.
Despite the threat to his year-to-date lead, Littler’s position as world No.1 remains completely secure.
The rankings are based on a rolling two-year system, and the Warrington sensation has built up a remarkable £2.9295 million in ranking prize money.
He is now on course to become the first player in PDC history to surpass the £3 million milestone.
His closest rival, Luke Humphries, remains £1.198 million adrift, highlighting the enormous cushion Littler has established at the summit of the world rankings.
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