European Tour Order of Merit Update: Aspinall Overtakes Littler as No.1 After Göttingen Triumph, Humphries’ Struggles Continue

Nathan Aspinall has secured his place at the top of the European Tour Order of Merit after a stunning victory at the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen. His first-ever European Tour title came with a £30,000 prize and a well-earned leap past Luke Littler in the rankings.

Littler, who previously led the Order of Merit after winning the Belgian Darts Open in March, was absent from the German tournament, leaving the door open for Aspinall to seize the top spot.

The Road to Glory: Aspinall’s Path to Victory

Aspinall’s journey to the title wasn’t without drama. He edged past Ritchie Edhouse (6-5) and Jermaine Wattimena (6-5) in tight opening rounds before delivering a commanding 6-1 victory over World No.1 Luke Humphries in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, he faced Gary Anderson, a match that turned into a high-quality battle. Aspinall held his nerve in a last-leg decider, winning 7-6 to set up a showdown with Ryan Joyce in the final. There, he showcased his composure and finishing ability, sealing an 8-4 victory to claim the title.

This breakthrough win not only cements Aspinall’s position in Dortmund for the European Championship in October but also strengthens his bids for major televised events like the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix later this year.

Ryan Joyce’s Rise to the Top 5

Joyce may have fallen short in the final, but his deep run saw him climb to fifth place in the Order of Merit with £13,250 in earnings. He now sits behind only Aspinall, Littler, Mike de Decker (£16,000), and Ross Smith (£14,500).

Behind Joyce, Gerwyn Price (£12,000) claims sixth place, followed by Dave Chisnall (£10,000) in seventh. The semifinals saw Anderson and Michael van Gerwen pick up their first ranking money of the season, pushing them into a tie for eighth place (£8,500) alongside James Wade.

Humphries’ Slow Start Raises Questions

Despite his status as World No.1, Luke Humphries has yet to hit top form on the European Tour this season. His 6-1 loss to Aspinall in Göttingen adds to a frustrating start, leaving him in a shared 19th place (£6,000) alongside Cameron Menzies.

Though Humphries has shown flashes of form, his struggles on the Euro Tour continue to be a talking point. Will he bounce back in the next event in Riesa (April 4-6)?

Other Key Movers and the Dortmund Race

• Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting are also off to slow starts, sitting joint 21st (£6,000).
• Martin Schindler (11th, £8,000) remains Germany’s best hope after another strong showing in Göttingen.
• Rob Cross, Damon Heta, and Dirk van Duijvenbode are hovering just inside the qualification spots for Dortmund.
• Peter Wright has yet to collect any prize money, leaving him outside the rankings altogether.

Aspinall’s win could also impact his scheduling moving forward. With his place in major events secured, will he pick and choose his tournaments, or will he push for even more success? Meanwhile, Joyce faces a decision—continue his momentum or follow Gary Anderson’s example and prioritize major tournaments over a full European Tour campaign.

With the International Darts Open in Riesa next on the calendar, expect big names like Littler and Bunting to return as the race to Dortmund intensifies.

PDC European Tour Order of Merit

Rank	Name	Prize money (in units of £1000)
1	Nathan Aspinall	30
2	Luke Littler	30
3	Mike De Decker	16
4	Ross Smith	14.5
5	Ryan Joyce	13.25
6	Gerwyn Price	12
7	Dave Chisnall	10
8	Gary Anderson	8.5
8	Michael van Gerwen	8.5
10	James Wade	8.5
11	Martin Schindler	8
12	Gian van Veen	6.5
12	Jermaine Wattimena	6.5
12	Michael Smith	6.5
12	Wessel Nijman	6.5
16	Boris Krcmar	6.5
16	Luke Woodhouse	6.5
16	Ritchie Edhouse	6.5
19	Cameron Menzies	6
19	Luke Humphries	6
21	Jonny Clayton	6
21	Stephen Bunting	6
23	Matt Campbell	5.25
24	Ricardo Pietreczko	5
24	Ryan Searle	5
26	Rob Cross	4
27	Damon Heta	4
27	Daryl Gurney	4
27	Dirk van Duijvenbode	4
30	Niko Springer	3.75
31	Krzysztof Ratajski	2.5
31	Mario Vandenbogaerde	2.5
33	Kevin Doets	2.5
34	Andrew Gilding	2.5
34	Ricky Evans	2.5
36	Cam Crabtree	2.5
37	Thibault Tricole	2.5
37	Thomas Lovely	2.5
39	Raymond van Barneveld	2.5
40	Adam Paxton	1.25
40	Andy Boulton	1.25
40	Mickey Mansell	1.25
40	Niels Zonneveld	1.25
40	Robert Grundy	1.25
40	Scott Williams	1.25
46	Karel Sedlacek	1.25
46	Radek Szaganski	1.25
46	Rob Owen	1.25
46	William O’Connor	1.25
50	Adam Hunt	1.25
50	Alan Soutar	1.25
50	Callan Rydz	1.25
50	Connor Scutt	1.25
50	Daniel Klose	1.25
50	Dominik Gruellich	1.25
50	Joe Cullen	1.25
50	Laurin Welk	1.25
50	Marko Kantele	1.25
50	Martin Lukeman	1.25
50	Michael Unterbuchner	1.25
50	Paul Krohne	1.25
62	Cedric Waegemans	1.25
62	Darius Labanauskas	1.25
62	Darryl Pilgrim	1.25
62	Francois Schweyen	1.25
62	James Hurrell	1.25
62	Jim Long	1.25
62	Matthew Dennant	1.25
62	Owen Bates	1.25
62	Patrick De Backer	1.25
62	Sybren Gijbels	1.25

With the European Tour heating up, who will rise and who will fall in the coming months? Stay tuned for all the latest action and updates!