Nathan Aspinall has reclaimed a place in the world’s top eight following his maiden European Tour triumph in Gottingen last weekend.
Aspinall broke new ground with victory at the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy, defeating Ryan Joyce 8-4 in Sunday’s showpiece to celebrate his first ranking title since July 2023.
The Stockport star also won through deciding-leg ties against Ritchie Edhouse, Jermaine Wattimena and Gary Anderson, while averaging 106.7 in a 6-1 thumping of world number one Luke Humphries.
Aspinall pocketed £30,000 for his exploits at the Lokhalle, which saw him climb four places to eighth on the PDC Order of Merit.
The former World Matchplay champion has subsequently overhauled Chris Dobey, Dave Chisnall, James Wade and Gerwyn Price on the Order of Merit, with Price slipping two places to world number 12.
Joyce, meanwhile, has catapulted himself to a career-high of world number 26 after defeating a quartet of TV title winners to progress to a maiden big stage final.
The 39-year-old accounted for Joe Cullen, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Rob Cross, Cameron Menzies and Michael van Gerwen during his breakthrough run, which earned him £12,000 in prize money.
Elsewhere, Wattimena is closing in on a place in the world’s top 32 after also impressing in Gottingen, having averaged 111 in his second round victory over Dobey.
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 on March 31-April 1, when Players Championships 9-10 take place in Leicester - watch live on PDCTV.
