Luke Littler is not only dominating the trophy count. He is also out in front for money actually earned during the 2026 season, with £485,000 in ranking prize money after seven months, according to the latest year-to-date figures reported by DartsNews.
The figure matters because it tells a different story from the official world ranking. The PDC Order of Merit is calculated over two years, but the annual view shows who is really shaping the current season. And right now, this is no longer just a good spell: Littler has opened up a huge gap at the top.
A 2026 ranking that changes the PDC picture
The year-to-date ranking adds up prize money won during the current calendar year. It does not replace the official PDC ranking, but it is a useful way to read momentum: who is moving, who is stalling, and who is building a season that can matter later in the year.
From that angle, Littler is clear in front. His World Masters, UK Open and World Matchplay titles carry serious weight, especially as he has not needed a full schedule to pull away from the field. Behind him, Wessel Nijman and Gerwyn Price remain close to each other, but already a long way behind the leader.
The PDC prize money top 10 for 2026
| Rank | Player | 2026 prize money |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Littler | £485,000 |
| 2 | Wessel Nijman | £278,500 |
| 3 | Gerwyn Price | £274,000 |
| 4 | Ross Smith | £208,000 |
| 5 | James Wade | £191,500 |
| 6 | Josh Rock | £171,500 |
| 7 | Gian van Veen | £166,250 |
| 8 | Kevin Doets | £163,000 |
| 9 | Luke Woodhouse | £163,000 |
| 10 | Luke Humphries | £157,000 |
The gap between Littler and Nijman is therefore more than £200,000. With the season still far from over, that is a major margin. More importantly, it confirms that Littler has won where the money really counts: the big weeks, the majors and the tournaments that shift a player's season.
Nijman, Price, Van Veen: the chasing pack is changing quickly
The table also says plenty about the movement behind Littler. Wessel Nijman is second with eight PDC ranking titles this season, including six Players Championship wins and two European Tour titles. This is no longer just promising progress. It is a real place near the top of the circuit.
Gerwyn Price sits just behind on £274,000, helped in particular by his World Matchplay final. Ross Smith, in fourth, is also putting together a steadier season than his usual reputation sometimes suggests. And Gian van Veen's move up the wider rankings reads better with this context: the Dutchman is not climbing by accident, he is still stacking up significant results.
Humphries and Van Gerwen, the warning sign
The most interesting part of the list may be lower down. Luke Humphries is only tenth for the year with £157,000. His reduced schedule explains part of that position, but early exits at the UK Open and World Matchplay still weigh on the reading.
For Michael van Gerwen, the signal is even clearer: he is 20th in the year-to-date ranking, with £118,750. The Dutchman has won one Players Championship event this season, but he has not yet found regular deep runs in the biggest ranking tournaments. On this kind of table, that shows quickly.
What it means for the rest of 2026
This ranking does not hand out an official title, but it does set a form hierarchy. Littler has the cushion, Nijman and Price are keeping pressure behind him, while several established names still have to prove that they can turn their season into major runs.
The rest of the summer will show whether this table remains a snapshot or becomes the real trend of 2026. For now, the marker is clear: Littler is doing the damage in the weeks that pay the most, and the rest of the circuit still has to respond.
