PDC Darts Power Rankings: Humphries Reclaims World No. 2 as Amsterdam Showdown Looms

The autumn major season is breathing down our necks, and the latest Leicester ProTour double-header just delivered the ultimate form check for the world's elite. With the 32-player field for September's World Series of Darts Finals now locked in, the power dynamics at the top of the oche are shifting at breakneck speed.[2][5]

Leading the charge is Luke Humphries, who snatched back the World No. 2 spot from Gian van Veen with a gritty, statement-making victory at Players Championship 28. Humphries outlasted Brendan Dolan 8-6 in a tense final, securing his third ProTour title of 2026 and his fifth individual crown of the season.[3][7]

What makes Humphries' run terrifying for the rest of the field is that he wasn't even at his best. Admitting to feeling "rusty" after a light summer schedule that saw him barely throw a competitive dart since June's US Darts Masters, Humphries still found a way to win. Surviving match darts against Danny Noppert in the last 16 proved he has the sheer match-play resilience required for the grueling autumn stretch.[3]

Meanwhile, Jermaine Wattimena has violently disrupted the form guide, claiming his third career ranking title at Players Championship 27. The Dutch veteran edged compatriot Kevin Doets 8-6 in the final, but his defining moment came earlier in the day when he sent World No. 1 Luke Littler packing in a dramatic quarter-final decider.[1]

Wattimena's victory, punctuated by a cold-blooded 115 checkout against Littler, catapults him back into the world's top 16. Heading into the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, the 38-year-old suddenly looks like a massive threat on home soil, armed with surging confidence and a brand-new set of Winmau darts.[1][2][7]

Despite the Leicester setbacks, Luke Littler remains the undisputed statistical king of the sport. The teenage sensation sits atop the PDC Order of Merit with a staggering £3.13 million in prize money, making him the first player in history to obliterate the £3 million ceiling.[6][7]

Littler's ProTour form has been slightly erratic as he chases qualification for November's Players Championship Finals, falling to Wattimena and Dolan on consecutive days. Yet his sheer scoring power and massive financial buffer ensure he remains the ultimate target whenever he steps onto a televised stage.[1][3][8]

The chasing pack is also making serious noise ahead of the Dutch trip. Kevin Doets reached the PC27 final to secure his spot in Amsterdam, while Mike De Decker turned heads by reaching the PC28 semi-finals, taking down Michael van Gerwen along the way.[1][3]

Van Gerwen himself heads into his home major as the top seed on the World Series Order of Merit, having scooped titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen earlier this year. The Dutch icon finished the international swing three points clear of Gerwyn Price, setting up a blockbuster narrative for the AFAS Live crowd.[2][4][5]

With the £450,000 World Series of Darts Finals kicking off on September 17, the sport's heavyweights are officially on notice. If Leicester's floor tournaments are any indication, Humphries' resilience and Wattimena's resurgence will make Amsterdam an absolute warzone.[2][5][8]