'We don’t need to show off anymore': Michael van Gerwen in favor of reforming PDC rankings from vanity system

Michael van Gerwen is calling on the PDC to seriously consider changing the current ranking system. This is prompted by the recent news that, starting in January 2026, the world champion will be able to receive a record sum of no less than one million pounds. Although Van Gerwen welcomes the prize money, he questions its impact on the world rankings.

Currently, the PDC Order of Merit is based entirely on the prize money players accumulate over a two-year period. As a result, Luke Humphries (£1.9 million) and world champion Luke Littler (£1.3 million) lead the rankings. In theory, after winning the World Cup, a player would hardly have to play the rest of the year without falling out of the top five.

According to Van Gerwen, it is time to switch to a points system similar to the one in tennis. “If you ask me, the £1million is not too much money – there’s never too much money in darts," said the three-time World Champion. "But if you ask me the question, ‘is it too much for the rankings?’ then I’d say yes.

He emphasizes that the current system clouds the ranking picture. “It gets the ranking out of perspective. I know it’s Barry Hearn’s little thing, to have a money ranking, and he did good for the sports, but we don’t need it anymore. We’re bigger than that. We don’t need to show off anymore.

Consequently, Van Gerwen would like to see the PDC switch to a points-based system. “I think they should do it on points. That’s my opinion. Maybe they have a good reason why they don’t want to do that.

Yet he also does not want to sound too negative about the growth that darts is experiencing. “We can be proud of the way the PDC did the deal with the prize money. In every sport, there’s always something which you disagree with or moan at.

With the new prize money for the world champion, a striking scenario also comes into view: should the 2026 final be decided in the very last leg or set, one winning arrow could make as much as 600,000 pounds difference - the difference between the winner (£1 million) and the runner-up (£400,000).

Van Gerwen has strong opinions on that, too. “In my opinion, a second place should never be lower than half of the top prize anyway. In any sport. That’s what I think.”

Finally, Van Gerwen emphasizes that the growing prize money is making the sport more attractive worldwide. “One million pounds is a dream for everyone, and the only thing you can do is perform. Darts is getting more popular around the world.”