PDC Order of Merit 2026: Littler Passes £3 Million as Van Gerwen Suffers a Historic Slump
The PDC Order of Merit looks very different after the 2026 World Matchplay. Luke Littler became the first player in darts history to pass £3 million in career ranking earnings, Gerwyn Price forced his way back into the world’s top four, and Michael van Gerwenfell to his lowest ranking in over a decade. Here’s exactly what moved, and why.
What Is the PDC Order of Merit, and Why Did It Move So Much?
The PDC Order of Merit is the two-year rolling table that ranks every professional player by prize money won at official ranking events — it decides seedings, tour cards and qualification for the majors. Because it’s cumulative rather than a snapshot, a single big result at a major like the World Matchplay can shift several places at once, both for the player who won it and for anyone whose two-year total is about to drop off the back of the window. For the full mechanics, see how the PDC Order of Merit works.
Luke Littler Passes £3 Million to Extend His Order of Merit Lead
Littler’s 18-9 demolition of Price in the World Matchplay final was worth £225,000 — enough to take his career PDC ranking earnings to £3,143,500, the first time any player has broken the £3 million barrier. It stretches his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to more than £2 million clear of his nearest challenger, an advantage that would have been almost unthinkable a few years ago and underlines just how far ahead of the field the 19-year-old currently is.
Gerwyn Price Climbs Into the World’s Top Four
Gerwyn Price was the other big mover. Reaching his second World Matchplay final — after beating Gian van Veen 17-10 in the semi-final — was enough to push the Welshman back into the world’s top four on the Order of Merit. It also means Price has overtaken Jonny Clayton to reclaim his spot as Wales’ top-ranked player, a title that has swung between the pair for years. You can see the full head-to-head history on the Price vs Clayton comparison page.
Michael van Gerwen Suffers His Worst Ranking Since 2013
The sharpest fall belonged to Michael van Gerwen. He went out in the second round, beaten 14-12 by fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in a match that went to a sudden-death leg. That result, combined with earlier results dropping off the two-year window, sends Van Gerwen down to world No.7 — the first time he has sat outside the Order of Merit’s top four since January 2013. For a player with three world titles and a résumé built on being a fixture at the top of the game, it’s a genuinely rare sight, and it will sting more than most early exits given how well he’d been playing earlier in the year at Players Championship 15.
PDC Order of Merit — Top Four After the World Matchplay 2026
Climbed back into the top four, reclaims Wales' No.1 spot
Van Gerwen, by contrast, now sits at world No.7 — a position that will put a dent in his seeding for the rest of the year unless he can string together some big results on the ProTour before the next major. Track exactly where every player stands, updated after every ranking event, on the live PDC Order of Merit.
What’s Next on the PDC Calendar
The ranking table won’t sit still for long. Players Championship 19 & 20 follow on 1-2 August, giving the likes of Van Gerwen an immediate chance to start rebuilding, before European Tour 6 on 15-16 August. The next major test is the World Grand Prix in Dublin from 5-11 October — the PDC’s double-in, double-out event, where Littler’s remarkable year so far will face a completely different challenge. If you want to see how the World Matchplay run unfolded in full, revisit our World Matchplay 2026 final breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the PDC Order of Merit change after the World Matchplay 2026?
Luke Littler extended his lead at the top after becoming the first player in PDC history to pass £3 million in career ranking prize money. Gerwyn Price climbed into the world's top four on the back of his run to the final, overtaking Jonny Clayton. Michael van Gerwen dropped to world No.7 after a second-round exit — his lowest position since 2013.
How much prize money has Luke Littler won in his career?
Littler's £225,000 for winning the 2026 World Matchplay took his career PDC ranking earnings to £3,143,500, the first time any player has passed the £3 million mark.
Why did Michael van Gerwen drop down the PDC rankings?
Van Gerwen lost 14-12 in a sudden-death second-round decider to fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode at the World Matchplay. Combined with results elsewhere on the two-year ranking window, that dropped him to world No.7 — the first time he has sat outside the world's top four since 2013.
Who is world number four in the PDC Order of Merit now?
Gerwyn Price, after reaching his second World Matchplay final. It moved him back into the world's top four and reclaimed his status as Wales' top-ranked player, overtaking Jonny Clayton.
Who are the current world number two and three in darts?
Luke Humphries is world No.2 and Gian van Veen is world No.3, with Van Veen continuing to close the gap on Humphries for the runner-up spot behind Littler.
What's the next PDC tournament after the World Matchplay 2026?
Players Championship 19 & 20 follow on 1-2 August, then European Tour 6 on 15-16 August. The next major is the World Grand Prix in Dublin from 5-11 October.