Summary:
Michael Smith has dropped out of the PDC world top 32 for the first time since 2013. The 2023 world champion now sits 33rd on the two-year Order of Merit with £304,500, and only 36th on the 2026 year-to-date list with £53,000 collected so far this season.
A symbolic drop after more than a decade inside the top 32
It is a striking marker for a player who reached the top of the sport after winning the PDC World Championship in 2023. His victory over Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace sent him to world number one and remains one of the defining moments of his career.
Falling outside the top 32 changes the reading of his situation. It is no longer just a dip in form or a bad spell, but a measurable decline on the ranking table.
Injuries have weighed heavily on his 2026 season
Physical issues have played a major part in his downturn. Ankle trouble, cortisone injections and a persistent wrist problem linked to an old break have all limited his preparation. Smith had already admitted before the 2026 World Championship that he could no longer sustain the long practice sessions that used to define his routine.
His 2026 campaign has not been empty, though. The Englishman reached the Players Championship 11 final, losing 8-7 to Beau Greaves, and he also produced European Tour quarter-final runs. However, those performances were not enough to stop the slide.
The World Matchplay cut-off adds even more pressure
With the World Matchplay cut-off getting closer, his fall outside the top 32 carries extra weight. It confirms that Smith’s poor run now has direct consequences for his status and for the way he approaches the next major events.
Darts Nerd had already highlighted the warning signs around Smith’s slump earlier this season. This latest drop only sharpens that story further.
