Luke Littler Falls Out of Top 10 in PDC ProTour Rankings: Stephen Bunting Takes Surprise Lead
The world of professional darts has witnessed a major shake-up as reigning world champion Luke Littler drops out of the top ten in the PDC ProTour Rankings, despite his dominant performances earlier this year. Littler’s selective tournament schedule in 2025 has reshaped the ranking landscape, giving an unexpected boost to England’s Stephen Bunting.
Luke Littler’s 2025: Triumphs and Strategic Absences
The 18-year-old prodigy from Warrington captured the World Darts Championship in February, demonstrating incredible skill and poise. He also secured victories at the World Matchplay and UK Open, highlighting his status as one of darts’ brightest talents.
However, Littler’s decision to skip several tournaments this year has affected his position in the ProTour Rankings. His recent runner-up finish to Michael van Gerwen in the World Series of Darts final further illustrates his selective yet highly competitive approach.
According to the PDC, the ProTour Rankings are calculated based on prize money earned in Players Championship and European Tour events over a rolling 12-month period. Littler’s prize earnings of £136,500 place him in 11th position, just outside the top ten.
What Dropping Out of the Top 10 Means
Despite slipping down the ProTour Rankings, Littler faces no significant consequences. The rankings primarily affect qualification for major tournaments like the World Darts Championship, World Matchplay, and World Grand Prix. Players can still qualify for these events through the PDC World Rankings, where Littler remains a leading figure.
Nicknamed "The Nuke", Littler is currently second in the world rankings, just behind Luke Humphries, having amassed over £1.5 million in prize money over the past two years.
Stephen Bunting Surges to ProTour Top Spot
The current leader of the ProTour Rankings is Stephen Bunting, who has enjoyed a highly lucrative 12 months. Bunting won the Bahrain Masters and Nordic Masters, earning a total of £192,000 in prize money.
Bunting’s strong form has placed him at fourth in the world overall, while Martin Schindler and Gerwyn Price complete the top three in the ProTour Rankings. Meanwhile, Van Gerwen, ranked third in the world, sits at 14th in the ProTour list, highlighting the gap between overall world ranking and ProTour performance.
| Player | ProTour Ranking | World Ranking | Prize Money (12 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Bunting | 1 | 4 | £192,000 |
| Martin Schindler | 2 | – | – |
| Gerwyn Price | 3 | – | – |
| Luke Littler | 11 | 2 | £136,500 |
| Michael van Gerwen | 14 | 3 | – |
The Controversy Around the “Triple Crown”
Littler is also one of five players to have achieved darts’ so-called Triple Crown, winning the World Matchplay in July. However, the PDC does not officially recognize the Triple Crown, and there are no plans to change this.
Matt Porter, PDC Chief Executive, explained:
"A small number of people have invented a phrase called the Triple Crown. Categorizing some events at one level only diminishes the status of others. If events A, B, C, and D are elevated, what about events E, F, G, and H? They’re still excellent, but it doesn’t work when promoting events commercially."
Looking Ahead
With Littler continuing to focus on select tournaments and rising stars like Bunting making their mark, the PDC ProTour Rankings promise further surprises as the year progresses. Fans can expect an exciting race for the top spots leading into the next World Darts Championship and other major competitions.
