The Order of Merit doesn’t care about reputation. It cares about receipts. And as 2026 rolls in, darts’ ranking system is quietly setting traps for the successful and laying out red carpets for the lightly burdened. This is the year where past glory becomes ballast – and empty pockets become jet fuel.
When prize money from 2024 starts falling away, players are split into two camps: those desperately trying to replace what they once won, and those free to stack without subtraction. With prize funds rising across the calendar, that difference isn’t subtle anymore. It’s decisive.
Gian van Veen – the pressure flows upward
World number three, Premier League resident, and now structurally dangerous. Van Veen enters 2026 defending remarkably little for someone so high in the food chain. Barely a fifth of his ranking total is at risk, which for a player guaranteed entry into every major and regular TV stages, is barely an inconvenience.
This is where the system starts working for him. Even average runs keep him stable. One or two standout weeks and suddenly the gap above starts shrinking fast. With those ahead of him carrying far heavier historical baggage, Van Veen doesn’t need to chase – he just needs to keep collecting. That’s how rankings flip quietly, and violently.
James Wade – experience with room to breathe
Wade’s position is deceptively powerful. A serial major finalist with surprisingly little falling off, he sits in a rare middle lane – not under siege, not scrambling, but perfectly aligned for incremental gain.
Last season proved he still has deep-run muscle. UK Open final. World Matchplay final. Long stretches of elite-level consistency. Reproduce even a portion of that and the maths starts nudging him upward again. Wade doesn’t need reinvention. He just needs repetition. And the system rewards that.
Krzysztof Ratajski – a rebound built into the structure
For Ratajski, 2026 feels forgiving. With a modest chunk of ranking money to defend, the door is open rather than closing. The signs were already there late last year – improved performances, a ProTour title, and a reminder that his ceiling hasn’t vanished.
He’s been a top-16 fixture before. The experience is there. The numbers now allow for a steady climb without panic. Stabilise the form, reinsert himself into majors regularly, and the rankings will do the rest. This isn’t a comeback story yet – it’s the runway.
Wessel Nijman – potential meets consequence
Nijman enters his first proper year of defence, but even here the balance is kind. Roughly a third of his ranking is at risk – manageable for someone now firmly embedded in European Tours and majors.
The darts are already there. Floor form suggests top-16 capability. The question has always been translation – turning quality into stage authority. If that click comes, this ranking position becomes a launchpad rather than a ceiling.
Niko Springer – the pure free swing
No defence. None. Springer enters 2026 with a clean sheet and maximum upside. Every cheque adds. Every run compounds. Average consistency alone moves him quickly – brilliance could move him violently.
He’s now qualifying for the right events, knocking on the doors that matter. One deep major run and the Order of Merit reshuffles around him. This is how unknowns become unavoidable.
Final word – maths beats mythology
In 2026, greatness isn’t just about winning titles. It’s about starting light. The players with clean slates don’t need miracles – they just need to keep earning. And in a year where prize money is heavier than ever, that’s how the rankings truly change.
