PDC Stats Analyst Christopher Kempf assesses the sport’s top ten stars – based on their last 200 legs played – following the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay. #1 Averages – Luke Littler#1 OChE – Luke Littler#1 Doubles – Wessel Nijman#1 171-180 – Luke Littler#1 99, 101+ Checkout – Wessel Nijman Luke Littler’s tournament average of 111 […]
PDC Stats Analyst Christopher Kempf assesses the sport’s top ten stars – based on their last 200 legs played – following the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay.
#1 Averages – Luke Littler
#1 OChE – Luke Littler
#1 Doubles – Wessel Nijman
#1 171-180 – Luke Littler
#1 99, 101+ Checkout – Wessel Nijman
Luke Littler’s tournament average of 111 at the World Matchplay places him so far beyond the greatest form achievements of Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in major tournaments that it’s impossible to know whether his record will stand for a decade, or whether Littler can produce an even more extraordinary performance.
Needless to say, Littler has reclaimed top spot in the Form Guide in emphatic fashion by setting a new average record, reaching the highest level of checkout efficiency in the history of the Form Guide and demolishing his old record for most 180s thrown in 200 legs.
The average PDC tour card holder now can expect to win only 27% of legs against the back-to-back World Matchplay champion – a 6-3 loss would actually be an encouraging achievement for the loser.
Against a player averaging six treble hits per leg and a 4:1 chance of completing a 12-darter in any given leg, Littler’s opponents may enter matches hoping not necessarily to win but claim enough legs to produce a respectable showing.
Only Luke Humphries has shown anything approaching the ability to defeat Littler among the remaining 127 Tour Card Holders.
However, the 2024 World Matchplay winner’s first-round defeat to Cameron Menzies (whilst Littler progressed with a 110 average) was not encouraging for his ability to consistently reach the finals needed to challenge Littler for big titles.
Humphries is still entitled to recognition for his otherwise excellent form, and it is only due to the blazing sun of Littler that Humphries’ star is difficult to pick out in the sky.
A 101.65 average over 200 legs and an OChE rating of nearly 67 are world-class figures, regardless of what the world number one does, but it may be little consolation if that form continues to come up short in the tournaments that matter most.
Setting Littler aside, the most improved player of July is Bradley Brooks, ranked 21st in the Form Guide, who did not appear at the World Matchplay but won both his board finals in Hildesheim and secured a double Euro Tour qualification immediately thereafter.
Brooks is running more than seven points ahead of his June form in terms of OChE, making him a 53.5% favourite to win a leg against the average ProTour player.
Yet the former World Youth Champion has been scoring important victories against ProTour winners, including triumphs over Chris Dobey, Krzysztof Ratajski and Damon Heta in his last three floor tournament appearances.
Henry Coates, last Tuesday’s Players Championship 25 winner, is not a PDC Tour Card holder and therefore does not appear in the Form Guide. But what if he was a member of that club of 128 pros?
The 20-year old is a Junior Darts Corporation alumnus and contemporary of Littler, being 18 months older than the World Champion.
Coates is not yet at the level of Littler, but his recent exploits would make him an impressive 15th in averages, just ahead of James Wade and Stephen Bunting.
The breakthrough star is currently ranked 95th in the world after a £15,000 payday, making him one of the most undervalued players by the world rankings relative to the Form Guide in the PDC.
Littler and Coates have not played each other in three years, but Coates’ recent form does give him some hope that he might not extend his Littler losing streak to 11 matches.