Luke Littler has broken into the world’s top five for the first time following his sensational Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts triumph in Wolverhampton on Sunday.
Littler powered past Martin Lukeman 16-3 to clinch his maiden televised ranking title in the West Midlands, after coming through a semi-final epic against Gary Anderson earlier in the day.
The 17-year-old also defeated Keane Barry, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Lourence Ilagan, Mike De Decker and Jermaine Wattimena in Wolverhampton, as he boasted a staggering tournament average of 104.99.
Littler’s victory at WV Active Aldersley catapults him up to fifth on the PDC Order of Merit – a remarkable achievement for a player who only began his professional career in January.
Anderson was also one of the big movers following his run to the semi-finals, which featured impressive wins over Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting and Gian van Veen.
The two-time World Champion was competing in his first televised ranking semi-final since January 2022, and he’s climbed seven places to 13th, as he plots a return to the world’s top ten over the coming months.
Van Gerwen has overhauled Michael Smith to become the new world number two, after the St Helens star failed defend the £150,000 in prize money that he pocketed following his 2022 Grand Slam success.
Stephen Bunting has broken into the world’s top eight as his impressive 2024 campaign continues, while Dimitri Van den Bergh has regained his place in the top ten courtesy of his run to the last 16.
Van den Bergh climbed above Nathan Aspinall, who slipped seven places to 14th after missing out on Grand Slam qualification for just the second time in six years.
Following his group stage exit, Peter Wright has relinquished his place in the world’s top 16 for the first time in a decade, with Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock also dropping three places to 18.
Gian van Veen produced a string of sensational performances in reaching his second televised ranking quarter-final, and he’s subsequently climbed four places to a career-high of world number 28.
This saw Van Veen jump above his compatriot Raymond van Barneveld, who was unable to defend the £50,000 he claimed at this event in 2022, after losing out in the Tour Card Holder Qualifier.
Elsewhere, Grand Slam runner-up Martin Lukeman is closing in on a return to the world’s top 32 following his sensational display on debut, and his exploits have seen him climb eight places to 37th on the Order of Merit.
Mickey Mansell has also parachuted himself up 13 places to 46th after reaching a first televised ranking semi-final, in a run which included wins over James Wade, Danny Noppert and Cameron Menzies.
The PDC Order of Merit comprises prize money won over a two-year period by players in PDC ranking events - click here to view the full PDC Order of Merit.
The PDC Order of Merit will next be open to change from November 22-24, as the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals takes place across three days at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.