Dimitri Van den Bergh has reclaimed a place in the world's top ten following his dramatic 2024 Ladbrokes UK Open success on Sunday.
Van den Bergh edged out World Champion Luke Humphries in a last-leg thriller to secure his second televised ranking title at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.
The Belgian number one claimed a host of high-profile scalps on his way to pocketing the £110,000 top prize, which catapulted him seven places up to seventh on the PDC Order of Merit.
World number one Humphries extended his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to over £400,000, despite missing two match darts in a gripping clash against Van den Bergh.
Elsewhere, Australia’s premier player Damon Heta moved up to a career-high of world number nine after breaking new ground in Minehead.
Heta denied teenage superstar Luke Littler in an astonishing last eight clash on Sunday, averaging over 106 to progress to a televised ranking semi-final for the first time.
Rob Cross’ run to the quarter-finals saw him leapfrog Gerwyn Price into fifth spot on the Order of Merit, while Martin Lukeman climbed two places to 33rd after also advancing to the last eight.
Ricky Evans enjoyed a weekend to remember in the south-west, defeating Cross to seal a spot in his maiden TV semi-final, which has seen him rise five places to world number 41.
Mervyn King rolled back the years with a last 16 appearance on Saturday, and the former Premier League runner-up has risen to 58th on the Order of Merit as he bids to resurrect his career.
The biggest mover this weekend was Denmark’s World Cup star Benjamin Drue Reus, who climbed 22 places to 98th after reaching round five on his UK Open debut.
Danny Noppert relinquished his place in the world’s top ten following his fifth round exit in Minehead, slipping six places to 13th after failing to retain the £100,000 top prize he claimed two years ago.
Meanwhile, Irish duo William O’Connor and Keane Barry have slipped to 49th and 50th respectively, having both featured in the semi-finals back in 2022.
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 this weekend, as the Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open (ET1) takes place in Wieze - watch live on PDCTV.
