PDC Order of Merit 2026 — Live Rankings, How It Works & Full Guide
The complete guide to the PDC Order of Merit. Current top 32 rankings, how the ranking system works, prize money breakdown and how players qualify for major events like the World Championship.
What Is the PDC Order of Merit?
The PDC Order of Merit is the official ranking system in professional darts. It determines a player's world ranking based on prize money earned over a rolling two-year period.
Think of it like a leaderboard that tracks how much money every professional darts player has won in PDC ranking events. The more you win, the higher you rank. Simple.
The Order of Merit matters because it determines:
- Tournament seedings — higher-ranked players get favourable draws
- World Championship qualification — top 32 automatically qualify for Alexandra Palace
- Premier League selection — only top-ranked players get invited
- World Matchplay qualification — top 16 qualify automatically
- Grand Slam of Darts — ranking determines invitations and seedings
- European Tour seedings — affects draws in all European events
The PDC Order of Merit is based entirely on prize money, not points. Every pound won in a PDC ranking event counts directly towards a player's ranking. This makes it one of the most transparent ranking systems in sport — you can see exactly why each player is ranked where they are.
Current PDC Order of Merit — Top 32 Rankings
Here are the current top 32 players on the PDC Order of Merit. These 32 players automatically qualify for the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize Money (2yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Littler |  England | £2,962,000 |
| 2 | Luke Humphries | England | £1,200,000 |
| 3 | Gian van Veen |  Netherlands | £937,750 |
| 4 | Michael van Gerwen | Netherlands | £705,750 |
| 5 | Jonny Clayton |  Wales | £668,500 |
| 6 | James Wade | England | £637,000 |
| 7 | Stephen Bunting | England | £607,250 |
| 8 | Gerwyn Price | Wales | £606,750 |
| 9 | Josh Rock |  N. Ireland | £605,750 |
| 10 | Gary Anderson |  Scotland | £595,750 |
| 11 | Danny Noppert | Netherlands | £594,750 |
| 12 | Ryan Searle | England | £565,750 |
| 13 | Chris Dobey | England | £539,250 |
| 14 | Nathan Aspinall | England | £509,250 |
| 15 | Ross Smith | England | £480,750 |
| 16 | Martin Schindler |  Germany | £465,750 |
| 17 | Jermaine Wattimena | Netherlands | £436,000 |
| 18 | Mike De Decker |  Belgium | £420,000 |
| 19 | Wessel Nijman | Netherlands | £418,250 |
| 20 | Damon Heta |  Australia | £410,500 |
| 21 | Luke Woodhouse | England | £396,250 |
| 22 | Rob Cross | England | £393,000 |
| 23 | Daryl Gurney | N. Ireland | £369,250 |
| 24 | Dave Chisnall | England | £366,750 |
| 25 | Krzysztof Ratajski |  Poland | £361,750 |
| 26 | Ryan Joyce | England | £359,250 |
| 27 | Ritchie Edhouse | England | £333,250 |
| 28 | Dirk van Duijvenbode | Netherlands | £331,000 |
| 29 | Cameron Menzies | Scotland | £327,500 |
| 30 | Andrew Gilding | England | £320,000 |
| 31 | Michael Smith | England | £316,750 |
| 32 | Joe Cullen | England | £295,250 |
The prize money shown is the total earned over the last two years in PDC ranking events. This is not career earnings — it's a rolling two-year window. Money from events older than two years has already dropped off.
How the PDC Order of Merit Works
The Order of Merit system is straightforward once you understand the basics. Here's exactly how it works:
Prize Money = Ranking
Every pound a player wins in a PDC ranking event goes directly onto their Order of Merit total. There are no complicated points formulas — if you win £500,000 in prize money, that's exactly what shows on your ranking.
Two-Year Rolling Window
The ranking covers a rolling two-year period. Only prize money from the last two years counts. After two years, the money "drops off" your ranking. This means players need to consistently perform — you can't rest on past success.
Money Drops Off Event-by-Event
Prize money doesn't drop off all at once. It drops off when the same event takes place two years later. For example, prize money won at the 2025 World Matchplay drops off after the 2027 World Matchplay concludes.
Only Ranking Events Count
Not all PDC events count towards the Order of Merit. Only official ranking events contribute. Exhibition matches, charity events and some invitational tournaments do not count.
Updates After Every Event
The Order of Merit updates after every ranking event. During busy periods (European Tour, Players Championship weekends), the rankings can change multiple times per week.
Simple Example
After the 2027 World Championship, that £500,000 drops off. Their total drops to £200,000 (plus anything else they've won in between).
This is why consistent performance matters — big wins only stay on the ranking for two years.
Prize Money Breakdown — How Much Each Event Is Worth
Not all events are equal. The major televised events offer significantly more prize money than floor events, which is why they have the biggest impact on the Order of Merit.
Major Televised Events
| Event | Winner | Runner-Up | Total Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Championship | £500,000 | £200,000 | £2,500,000 |
| Premier League | £275,000 | £125,000 | £1,000,000 |
| World Matchplay | £200,000 | £100,000 | £800,000 |
| World Grand Prix | £120,000 | £60,000 | £600,000 |
| Grand Slam of Darts | £150,000 | £70,000 | £650,000 |
| Players Championship Finals | £100,000 | £50,000 | £500,000 |
European Tour & ProTour Events
| Event Type | Winner | Runner-Up | Total Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Tour | £30,000 | £12,000 | £175,000 |
| Players Championship | £15,000 | £6,500 | £75,000 |
The World Championship winner takes home £500,000 — more than 30 Players Championship wins combined. This is why the Worlds has the biggest single impact on the Order of Merit. One deep run at Ally Pally can transform a player's ranking overnight.
How Players Qualify for Major Events
The Order of Merit ranking directly determines who plays in the biggest events. Here's the qualification criteria for each major tournament:
| Event | Auto-Qualify | Other Routes |
|---|---|---|
| World Championship | Top 32 OoM | ProTour OoM, International Qualifiers, Prelim Rounds |
| Premier League | Invitation only | Based on ranking + popularity + TV appeal |
| World Matchplay | Top 16 OoM | ProTour OoM fills remaining spots |
| World Grand Prix | Top 16 OoM | ProTour OoM + Qualifiers |
| Grand Slam | Invited based on ranking | Major winners + Qualifiers |
| European Tour | Top 16 seeded | Tour card holders + Host nation qualifiers |
The Two-Year Rolling Period Explained
The two-year rolling window is the most important concept to understand about the Order of Merit. Here's how it works in detail:
When Does Money Drop Off?
Prize money drops off when the same event takes place two years later. Not on an exact calendar date — it's tied to the event cycle.
| Money Won At | Drops Off After |
|---|---|
| 2025 World Championship (Jan 2025) | 2027 World Championship (Jan 2027) |
| 2025 World Matchplay (Jul 2025) | 2027 World Matchplay (Jul 2027) |
| 2025 Players Champ 1 (Feb 2025) | 2027 Players Champ 1 (Feb 2027) |
| 2026 Premier League (Feb-May 2026) | 2028 Premier League (Feb-May 2028) |
Why This Matters
Rankings can drop dramatically
If a player won a major event two years ago but hasn't performed well since, their ranking drops significantly when that prize money falls off. A World Championship winner loses £500,000 from their ranking two years later.
Young players can rise fast
Players like Luke Littler can climb the rankings rapidly because they have no "old" money dropping off — everything they earn is new. Meanwhile, established players might be losing old prize money while trying to replace it.
Consistency is rewarded
The system rewards players who perform consistently over two years rather than those who have one big win and then struggle. A player who regularly reaches quarter-finals and semi-finals can outrank a one-time major winner.
Timing creates pressure
Players know exactly when money is about to drop off their ranking. If a player won £200,000 at last year's World Matchplay, they know they need a good result at the upcoming Matchplay to maintain their ranking.
Order of Merit vs World Rankings — What's the Difference?
This is a common source of confusion. Here's the key difference:
| Feature | PDC Order of Merit | Other Ranking Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Prize money (£) | Points |
| Period | Rolling 2 years | Varies |
| Used by | PDC (official) | WDF, other organisations |
| Transparency | 100% — exact £ shown | Varies |
| Updates | After every ranking event | Varies |
| Determines | All PDC tournament seedings | Non-PDC events |
The PDC also maintains a separate ProTour Order of Merit which only counts prize money from Players Championship and European Tour events (not televised majors). This is used as a secondary qualification route for some tournaments.
If someone says "world number 1 in darts", they're almost always referring to the PDC Order of Merit. The PDC is by far the dominant professional darts organisation and their ranking is the one that matters.
Order of Merit History & Records
The PDC Order of Merit has been running since the PDC was founded in 1994. Here are some notable records and milestones:
All-Time World Number 1s
| Player | Period at #1 | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Phil Taylor | 1994-2014 (dominant) | Held #1 for the majority of 20 years |
| Michael van Gerwen | 2014-2023 (dominant) | Longest continuous reign in modern era |
| Gerwyn Price | 2021-2022 | First Welsh world number 1 |
| Luke Humphries | 2024-present | Current world number 1 |
Key Records
Longest at #1
Phil Taylor dominated the Order of Merit for roughly two decades. His reign at the top is unlikely to ever be matched.
Fastest Rise
Luke Littler shot into the top 32 in record time after his stunning World Championship run in 2024, aged just 16.
Highest Two-Year Total
Michael van Gerwen held the record for the highest two-year Order of Merit total during his dominant 2018-2019 period.
Most International #1s
Only players from England, Netherlands and Wales have held the world number 1 position in PDC history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PDC Order of Merit?
The PDC Order of Merit is the official ranking system in professional darts. It ranks players based on prize money earned over a rolling two-year period. The rankings determine tournament seedings, qualification for major events and a player's world ranking.
How does the PDC Order of Merit work?
Every pound won in a PDC ranking event counts towards a player's ranking. The system covers a rolling two-year window — prize money drops off when the same event takes place two years later. Players need to consistently perform to maintain their ranking.
Who is number 1 in the PDC Order of Merit?
As of April 2026, Luke Humphries is the current world number 1 on the PDC Order of Merit with approximately £1,475,000 in prize money over the two-year period.
What is the difference between the Order of Merit and the World Rankings?
The PDC Order of Merit is based on prize money and is used for all PDC tournament seedings. Other organisations may use points-based systems. The PDC Order of Merit is the most widely recognised ranking in professional darts.
How often does the PDC Order of Merit update?
The Order of Merit updates after every PDC ranking event. During busy periods, this can mean multiple updates per week, especially during European Tour and Players Championship weekends.
How do players qualify for the PDC World Championship?
The top 32 players on the PDC Order of Merit automatically qualify for the World Championship at Alexandra Palace. Additional places are filled through the ProTour Order of Merit, international qualifiers and preliminary rounds. A total of 96 players compete.
What events count towards the PDC Order of Merit?
All PDC ranking events count, including the World Championship, Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, Players Championship events, European Tour events and World Series Finals. Exhibition matches and invitational events do not count.
How long does prize money stay on the Order of Merit?
Prize money stays on the ranking for exactly two years. It drops off when the same event takes place two years later. For example, 2025 World Matchplay money drops off after the 2027 World Matchplay.
Can a player lose their ranking?
Players don't "lose" their ranking entirely, but it can drop significantly if they don't replace prize money that falls off. If a player won a major two years ago but hasn't performed well since, their ranking will fall when that money drops off.
What is the ProTour Order of Merit?
The ProTour Order of Merit is a separate ranking that only counts prize money from Players Championship and European Tour events (not televised majors). It's used as a secondary qualification route for some tournaments and gives floor event specialists a path to the big stage.
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