The PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit, which ranks players based on prize money from Players Championship and European Tour events over the past 12 months, has seen dramatic shifts as of September 21, 2025, following the conclusion of ET12 (the Dutch Darts Masters). In a stunning development, reigning world champion Luke Littler has fallen out of the top 10 to No. 11, overtaken by a surprise leader: Northern Irish sensation Josh Rock. Rock’s consistent grinding on the floor events has propelled him to the summit with £175,000, edging Littler (£133,500) and highlighting the Pro Tour’s unforgiving nature. Meanwhile, veterans like Rob Cross (No. 20), Michael Smith (No. 34), and Peter Wright (No. 37) are in “big trouble,” teetering on the edge of the top 16 that guarantees seeded status for 2026’s opening European Tour events.
The Top 10: Rock’s Rise and Littler’s Fall
Josh Rock, 24, has emerged as the Pro Tour kingpin after a breakout 2025, climbing to No. 1 with £175,000 in earnings from multiple Players Championship wins and strong European Tour showings. His consistency—four titles on the Pro Tour circuit—has rewarded the relentless approach, contrasting Littler’s focus on majors like the World Championship (£500,000) and Premier League (£315,000), which don’t count toward this list. Littler, who entered the year as a wildcard sensation, slips to No. 11, just £6,000 behind No. 10 Wessel Nijman (£139,000). Despite his televised dominance (17 PDC titles overall), Littler’s lighter Pro Tour schedule has cost him here.
The full top 10 as of September 21, 2025:
| Rank | Player | Earnings (£) |
|——|——–|————–|
| 1 | Josh Rock | 175,000 |
| 2 | Jonny Clayton | 155,000 |
| 3 | Luke Humphries | 147,500 |
| 4 | Ross Smith | 144,000 |
| 5 | Damon Heta | 141,000 |
| 6 | Martin Schindler | 140,000 |
| 7 | Joe Cullen | 138,000 |
| 8 | Ryan Searle | 135,000 |
| 9 | Gian van Veen | 132,500 |
| 10 | Wessel Nijman | 139,000 |
| 11 | **Luke Littler** | **133,500** |
Littler’s drop is surprising given his form, but the Pro Tour rewards volume—34 Players Championships and 14 European Tour events—where Rock has excelled with back-to-back finals in recent floors.
Big Trouble for Cross, Smith, and Wright
The update spells peril for several big names below the top 16, which secures automatic entry to the first two 2026 European Tour events (Hungarian Darts Trophy and German Darts Grand Prix). Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion, is in dire straits at No. 20 (£77,500), his form dip evident in early major exits. Michael Smith, the 2023 world champ and ex-No. 1, languishes at No. 34 with sparse earnings, hampered by injuries that limited his Pro Tour play. Peter Wright, two-time world champion (2020, 2022), is in the deepest hole at No. 37 (£62,500), winless on the Pro Tour this year and facing a potential qualifying hell for 2026 majors.
Other notables struggling include Raymond van Barneveld (No. 21, £76,000) and Chris Dobey (No. 18, £85,000), clinging to the top 20. The rolling 12-month format punishes poor recent results, with only PC28-34 and ET13-14 left to salvage positions before the year-end freeze.
Implications for the Season’s Endgame
With the World Grand Prix (October 7-12) looming, these rankings will dictate seeding for the final majors. Littler, despite his TV success, must grind floors to reclaim a top-10 spot, while Rock’s lead positions him for seeded berths. For Cross, Smith, and Wright, the stakes are survival—falling outside the top 64 risks losing their Tour Cards at Qualifying School in January 2026.
PDC Order of Merit chief Barry Hearn noted the volatility: “The Pro Tour is where stars are forged—it’s brutal, but fair.” As Littler eyes his first European Tour title in Budapest this weekend, and veterans scramble, the rankings underscore darts’ meritocracy: no one’s safe, no matter the legacy. The full standings are live on PDC.tv, updated after each event.
