Latest news with #PDCOrderofMerit
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
World Darts Championship chiefs confirm major changes including £1m jackpot
Luke Littler is the reigning World Darts Championship winner after his historic triumph over Michael van Gerwen just 17 to claim a £500,000 prize - and that money has now been bumped up to £1m for this year's competition World Darts Championship chiefs have confirmed the format for their competition ahead of this year's tournament at Ally Pally, with the likes of Luke Littler having to win at least seven games to claim the new £1million prize. Littler became the youngest winner of the championship in January as he became world champion aged 17 in a moment that catapulted him to super stardom in darts. His 7-3 triumph over Michael van Gerwen saw him claim a £500,000 jackpot and now chiefs are preparing to upgrade their total prize fund to £5m for the first time due to the increasing popularity of the sport. The newest edition of the tournament will also have more players than ever. There will be 128 taking part ahead of the start date in December, running until January 2026. And chiefs are now preparing a format shift for darts' biggest competition, introducing a Wimbledon-style system with a seeded structure similar to the tennis Grand Slam. The top 32 players in the world will be seeded, with those ranked below drawn at random against the 64 qualifiers. The players in the top 40 from the PDC Order of Merit will qualify automatically, as will the top 40 non-qualified stars from the ProTour Order of Merit. And with a significant increase in players taking part - going up from 96 in the 2024-25 event - the biggest stars like Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen will have to play even more matches to claim their grand prize of £1m. PDC chief Matt Porter said the huge increase of the prize money summed up darts' status as one of the most exciting and popular sports in the world at present. He said: "The £1 million prize for the World Champion reflects darts' standing as one of the most exciting and in-demand sports in the world and the historic total will rightly attract headlines as the biggest prize ever paid out in the sport. "However, the increased prize funds announced today demonstrate our commitment to growing earning potential for players at all levels within the PDC system. "The incredible growth of the PDC in recent years has seen darts elevated to levels never seen before both in terms of playing opportunities and global interest and this is a huge moment for all players with the ambition to make it to the very pinnacle of the sport."
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler sent warning over playing darts tournament that 'levels people out'
Luke Littler will make his World Cup of Darts debut on Saturday as he looks to lead England to the title alongside Luke Humphries, but former winner Simon Whitlock has called for caution Luke Littler has been handed words of caution by Simon Whitlock ahead of the teenager's World Cup of Darts debut. The Warrington youngster's rise in the darting sphere has been stellar, with him reaching a world final in 2024, but even he missed out on one competition last year. In the World Cup of Darts, teams are determined via the PDC Order of Merit, and the top two players from each participating country qualify. Twelve months ago, Luke Humphries and Michael Smith, both former world champions, outranked Littler and subsequently led England to their first triumph since 2016. Littler, who is now a world title holder, has made the doubles tournament this time around and is slated to team up with Cool Hand in what appears to be a formidable pairing. However, 2022 champion Whitlock has issued a warning. "I love the World Cup. I mean, it's pairs. It's something different," Whitlock said, speaking at the MODUS Super Series 24/7 on Pluto TV launch. "There's only one tournament in the PDC, the whole calendar [that is a pairs competition], and it's a great tournament. "But it sort of levels people out. You're not just playing for yourself, you're playing for your partner and your country as well, which makes it unique from everything else, and I really do believe they should be playing more pairs tournaments." While Whitlock, who defeated England's Smith and James Wade en route to the title three years ago, acknowledged the challenges of the format, he heaped praise on Littler's exceptional abilities, reports the Express. "Luke Littler, he looks calm; he never looks flustered," Whitlock said. "I'm not being disrespectful, but he is an absolute freak of darts. He's absolutely brilliant, and he deserves all the wins he gets. He's just an incredible player." Ahead of his World Cup debut, 18-year-old Littler expressed his excitement and admitted that many were confused why he was unable to participate in Frankfurt last year. "I cannot wait," he said. "Last year, people were confused about the ranking system. Everyone was asking why I wasn't in the World Cup, and I had to explain that I'd just started my career. But now, with the major ranking money contributing to the rankings, it's a different story." Humphries has also commented on the duo's prospects, acknowledging that, due to the format, he will let the prolific scorer Littler throw first. "I will probably put him first," Humphries told Sky Sports. "He is definitely the best scorer in the world. That's not a lie, it's obvious. So, you're going to put your strengths forward. You put him first, he is probably better at going for the bullseye than I am, getting the throws. "Only if he's comfortable with it. If not, I'll go first but I played the anchor role last year. I felt really good going second, so maybe that is my role for this year as well." As England retains the No. 1 seed for the 2025 renewal thanks to their pairing ranking the highest on the PDC circuit, Littler and Humphries will team up for the first time in the last 16 on Saturday, June 14.
Daily Record
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
European Darts Open 2025 order of play: full schedule and start times as Dave Chisnall defends title in Leverkusen
Gary Anderson and Peter Wright amongst the World champions hunting victory in Germany Dave Chisnall will begin his defence of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open against Cameron Menzies. The year's eighth European Tour event is now down to 32 players competing for the £30,000 top prize in Leverkusen after Friday's 16 first round matches. The 16 PDC Order of Merit Qualifiers will enter the tournament in Saturday's second round as reigning champion Chisnall sets his sights on a ninth European Tour crown with Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall and Gary Anderson amongst the big names joining for the second-round matches. Highlights on day one saw Niko Springer storm through by demolishing Dirk van Duijvenbode to set-up a clash with Chris Dobey. Sweden's Andreas Harrysson claimed the scalp of Raymond van Barneveld and will now face another former World Champion Smith, who is embroiled in a battle for World Matchplay qualification. Wessel Nijman, a semi-finalist in Rosmalen last weekend, swept aside the returning Brendan Dolan in his opener and his reward is a clash with two-time World Champion Gary Anderson. Following Saturday's second round, the third round will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a blockbuster evening session. Live coverage from the European Darts Open will be streamed on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and through the DAZN Darts channel on Pluto TV. Schedule of Play Saturday May 31 Second Round Afternoon Session 12 noon Ross Smith v Matt Campbell Ryan Searle v Andrew Gilding Damon Heta v Mickey Mansell Danny Noppert v Ritchie Edhouse Dave Chisnall v Cameron Menzies Gary Anderson v Wessel Nijman Mike De Decker v Ryan Joyce Gian van Veen v Daryl Gurney Evening Session 6pm Chris Dobey v Niko Springer James Wade v Lukas Wenig Peter Wright v Darryl Pilgrim Jonny Clayton v Jermaine Wattimena Michael Smith v Andreas Harrysson Nathan Aspinall v Bradley Brooks Martin Schindler v Ricardo Pietreczko Stephen Bunting v Luke Woodhouse Sunday June 1 Afternoon Session 12 noon Third Round Evening Session 6pm Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals WHERE TO WATCH: All European Tour events are streamed live through Viaplay in the UK and also on PDC TV.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Premier League Darts prize money as Luke Humphries beats Luke Littler in final
The Premier League Darts Finals Night was a spectacle to remember. Young prodigy Luke Littler was set to defend his title at the O2 Arena in London, but fell short against Luke Humphries in a thrilling final. At just 18, Littler clinched the Premier League Darts title last year after being selected as one of four wildcards following his surprising performance at the 2024 World Darts Championship. He triumphed on four nights during his debut season before besting Michael Smith in the semi-finals and securing the title with an 11-7 victory over Humphries. 'The Nuke', the current world champion and UK Open winner this year, sits second in the PDC Order of Merit. He defeated Gerwyn Price in his semi-final, while Humphries overcame Nathan Aspinall, but it was Cool Hand who emerged victorious in the final with an 11-8 scoreline. Littler had previously topped the regular season standings with 45 points, winning six of the 16 weekly events, leading many to anticipate him finishing the job. He started strong against Humphries, only for his opponent to make a stunning comeback. The Premier League season boasts a total prize pot of £1million, with Humphries pocketing £275k for his win. Runner-up Littler will take home £125k for his efforts, while the losing semi-finalists will receive £85k each, reports the Mirror. The remaining four players in the eight-man league earned between £60k and £75k, with the money increasing by £5k increments based on their final league position. Teen darting sensation Luke Littler had already pocketed an additional £60k before tonight's showdown, having snagged a £10k bonus for each weekly win in the regular season. He sits comfortably on the PDC Order of Merit with earnings of £1.3m from ranked tournaments alone - a mere £573k shy of world number one Humphries. This impressive sum does not take into account Littler's prize money from events like Premier League Darts that aren't ranked, nor his sponsorship deal takings. On his trail to darts glory, Humphries joined the elite circle of Triple Crown winners following his first-ever Premier League success - a feat he shared with competitors Price and Aspinall, who were also vying for their inaugural victory in the prestigious 2025 play-offs. Littler must now set his sights on 2026 if he aims to join the ranks of the rare multi-time Premier League champions - a club currently boasting the likes of Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen, with Van Gerwen towering at seven title victories. Humphries, basking in the glow of his triumph, expressed gratitude to Sky Sports: "This one means the world to me, that was the one I was missing," and acknowledged the difference it made to him: "It was the one I wanted, I have done it now. If I don't win another title, I am happy as I have done the three hardest ones to do." He went on to thank darting legend Phil Taylor for his invaluable guidance and support: "Phil Taylor has given me a lot of support over the last couple of weeks so, Phil, if you are watching, thank you. He gave me a lot of advice and that extra support. "I love Luke to bits. He is one of my best mates on tour and he is so good," he said of Littler. "He wasn't at his best tonight, neither was I. I thought the game was going to go away from me at 3-0 down. He is a great player, a great lad, and I will get in early before he trounces everyone."
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Premier League Darts Finals Night – How much will Luke Humphries get for win
The Premier League Darts Finals took place at the O2 Arena on Thursday Night, where Luke Littler's title defence coming to an end in the final against Luke Humphries The highly-anticipated Premier League Darts Finals Night will live long in the memory. Teenage sensation Luke Littler was aiming to defend his title at the O2 Arena in London, but he fell short against Luke Humphries in a dramatic final. The 18-year-old won the Premier League Darts title last year after being invited as one of four wildcards following his shock run at the 2024 World Darts Championship. Littler won four nights in his maiden campaign before defeating Michael Smith in the semi-finals and clinching the title with an 11-7 win over Humphries. 'The Nuke' is reigning world champion and won the UK Open this year, placing him second in the PDC Order of Merit. He beat Gerwyn Price in his semi-final this time around, while Humphries beat Nathan Aspinall, but it was Cool Hand who won the final by an 11-8 margin. Littler had earlier topped the regular season standings with 45 points, winning six of the 16 weekly events, and many expected him to complete the job. He made a fast start against Humphries, only for his rival to come roaring back. The Premier League season has a total £1million prize pot, with Humphries receiving £275k for his victory. Runner-up Littler will earn £125k for his efforts, with the losing semi-finalists pocketing £85k each. The remaining four players in the eight-man league earned between £60k and £75k, with the money rising by £5k increments depending on their final league position. Littler had already earned an extra £60k regardless of any results tonight, courtesy of the £10k bonus for weekly wins in the regular season. According to the PDC Order of Merit, the 18-year-old has earned £1.3m from ranked tournaments, placing him £573k behind world number one Humphries. This total does not take into account Littler's prize money from non-ranked events, such as Premier League Darts. It also doesn't include his earnings from sponsorship deals. Humphries was one of three men chasing a first ever Premier League triumph, and his success made him a triple crown winner. Remarkably, neither he, Price or Aspinall had ever won the competition going into the 2025 play-offs. Littler will have to wait until 2026 at the earliest to become a multi-time Premier League champion - something only achieved by Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. However, the teenage sensation would still have a long way to go to match Van Gerwen's record seven title wins. Littler signed off the regular season with a nightly victory in Sheffield, besting Humphries in the final. His six nightly wins beat the previous record of four and also helped him set an all-time points tally. Responding to his Sheffield victory on Instagram, Littler said: 'Got the record, got top spot. O2 lets get it done.' Meanwhile, Humphries' focus was already on lifting the trophy, even before their most recent meeting. 'You know you have to raise your game against Luke,' Humphries said earlier this month. 'Winning in Leeds last week will give me great confidence, but the goal now is to be Premier League champion. Whatever happens in the next two weeks, that's my focus.'
