Luke Littler has reclaimed the top spot in the PDC Form Guide – and by a clear margin. In the update published on Tuesday by the PDC, the two-time 2026 World Matchplay winner tops the rankings for average, OChE and the number of 171–180 finishes in his last 200 legs. Following his tournament in Blackpool, where he averaged 111, it is no longer just a sense of dominance: the figures show he has an almost overwhelming lead.
This is all the more striking given that this update comes hot on the heels of his 9-darter against Nathan Aspinall and his title defence at the Winter Gardens. Put another way: his run at Blackpool is not merely a memory of a great tournament. It also changes the way we interpret the current state of the PDC circuit.
What the PDC Form Guide really measures
The Form Guide, compiled by PDC analyst Christopher Kempf, does not follow the traditional Order of Merit. It focuses on the last 200 legs played by Tour Card holders. The idea is simple: to look at current form, not just the money earned over two years.
Within this short timeframe, Littler comes out on top across several key metrics. The PDC ranks him first in averages, the OChE – an indicator combining scoring and finishing efficiency – and 171–180s. Wessel Nijman, for his part, dominates the doubles and checkouts of 99, 101 or more. The table therefore does not see one name dominating the field, but the overall hierarchy is clear: when it comes to producing the highest overall standard, Littler is ahead.
| PDC indicator | Prognosed leader |
|---|---|
| Average over 200 legs | Luke Littler |
| OChE | Luke Littler |
| Doubles | Wessel Nijman |
| 171–180 | Luke Littler |
| Checkouts of 99, 101 or more | Wessel Nijman |
A standard that skews the comparison
The most striking figure remains his average of 111 at the World Matchplay. The PDC believes this mark so far exceeds the historical benchmarks set by Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen at major tournaments that it is difficult to know whether the record will stand for ten years or whether Littler can push it even further.
This isn’t just hype. The PDC adds that the average Tour Card holder could only hope to win around 27 per cent of legs against the current Littler. In a short-format match, losing 6–3 to him would almost be a respectable result. This is where it gets tough: the problem for other players is no longer just beating him, but simply staying in the match long enough to make him doubt himself.
Luke Humphries, however, maintains very high-level statistics. The update mentions an average of 101.65 over his last 200 legs and an OChE close to 67. On a normal circuit, this would be the dominant performance. Except that the ‘Littler moment’ overshadows the bigger picture. Even world-class form can seem secondary when the number one is racking up such relentless runs.
Brooks and Coates: the underdogs to watch
The update doesn’t just focus on the headline name. Bradley Brooks stands out as one of July’s most improved players. Ranked 21st in the Form Guide, he is more than seven points above his June OChE level and is coming off notable victories against Chris Dobey, Krzysztof Ratajski and Damon Heta on the floor.
Henry Coates also deserves a mention of his own. Winner of the Players Championship 25 without a Tour Card, he does not officially feature in the Form Guide of the 128 pros. However, the PDC points out that his recent data would place him virtually 15th on average, just ahead of James Wade and Stephen Bunting. For a player still outside the exclusive club of Tour Card holders, this is a serious sign.
Why this update matters now
The calendar is set to resume with the August events, followed by the major blocks of fixtures at the end of the season. And the question is no longer simply whether Littler can win again. It has become more specific: given the current form, who can really pose a threat to him over the long term?
Sky Sports has already floated the idea of Littler being on course for a potential clean sweep in 2026, with the next major targets in his sights. The PDC Form Guide provides a more objective basis for this discussion. It does not promise a clean sweep. It simply states that, over the last 200 legs, the benchmark clearly belongs to Littler.
For the editorial team, this is the real story of the day: dominance is no longer measured solely by trophies. It can be seen in the deeper layers of performance – the ones that often herald the weeks when the circuit could be turned on its head.
Sources: PDC, Sky Sports, Sporting News.
