The latest PDC rankings include several rapid upward movers and a corresponding number of players in decline. New sensation Luke Littler continues his rise as Dimitri Van den Bergh and Damon Heta make significant progress.
Aussie Damon Heta has moved up to a career-high of world number seven following the conclusion of the 2024 Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open on Sunday.
Australian number one Heta – a UK Open semi-finalist earlier this month – has climbed two places to seventh in the world, despite his last 16 defeat to eventual champion Luke Littler in Wieze.
Heta dispatched Brendan Dolan 6-1 in his second round tie at the Oktoberhallen, which saw him overhaul two-time World Champion Peter Wright and newly crowned UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh on the PDC Order of Merit.
Littler also moved up two places to 28th after producing a string of superb displays to pocket the £30,000 top prize in Belgium, sealed with an epic 8-7 success against Rob Cross in Sunday’s showpiece.
The teenage superstar landed a nine-darter on his way to victory against Cross, having also accounted for Jose de Sousa, Krzysztof Ratajski, Heta, Jermaine Wattimena and Ricardo Pietreczko across the weekend.
Despite succumbing to Cross in the semi-finals, Gerwyn Price has leapfrogged the 2018 World Champion to become the new world number five, following impressive victories over Gabriel Clemens, Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting.
Masters champion Bunting recorded wins over Josh Rock and Belgian duo Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker to seal his spot in the quarter-finals, which saw him reclaim a place in the world’s top 16.
Pietreczko is just £6,000 away from breaking into the world’s top 32 for the first time, having accounted for Luke Woodhouse, Ryan Joyce and Jonny Clayton to advance to his second European Tour semi-final.
Elsewhere, Wattimena celebrated his 36th birthday in Belgium last weekend, and the Dutchman has climbed three places to 44th on the Order of Merit after reaching his first European Tour quarter-final since 2019.
The PDC Order of Merit comprises prize money won over a two-year period by players in PDC ranking events – click here to view the full PDC Order of Merit.
The PDC Order of Merit will next be open to change next week as Players Championships 5-6 take place in Hildesheim – watch live on PDCTV.
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Images: PDC
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