‘We’re bigger than that’ – Michael van Gerwen urges darts chief to make major change to rankings system

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN wants the PDC to revert to a points basis system for its world ranking following the announcement of the £1million world championship jackpot.

The PDC Order of Merit is done on a financial basis with players accumulating prize money from tournaments over a two-year spell.

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Michael van Gerwen has suggested a huge change[/caption]

Luke Humphries leads the race with £1.9million to his name while Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, is second, having earned £1.3million since turning professional.

The next world champion will be fighting for a £1million cheque, the richest prize ever in darts, following the new five-year £125million Sky Sports TV deal.

Theoretically someone could lift the Sid Waddell Trophy in January 2026 and take the rest of the year off – and hardly fall out of the top five.

Van Gerwen, ranked third in the world, wants oche bosses to look towards tennis where more points are awarded for Grand Slam successes compared to lower-key events.

The three-time world champion, 35, said: “If you ask me, the £1million is not too much money – there’s never too much money in darts.

“But if you ask me the question, ‘is it too much for the rankings?’ then I’d say yes.

“It gets the ranking out of perspective. I know it’s Barry Hearn’s little thing, to have a money ranking, and he did good for the sports, but we don’t need it anymore.

“We’re bigger than that. We don’t need to show off anymore.

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“I think they should do it on points. That’s my opinion. Maybe they have a good reason why they don’t want to do that.

“We can be proud of the way the PDC did the deal with the prize money.

“In every sport, there’s always something which you disagree with or moan at.

“One million pounds is a dream for everyone, and the only thing you can do is perform. Darts is getting more popular around the world.”

There could be a situation, if the next world final is close and goes to a final set, that the winning dart would be worth £600,000.

That is the difference between the champion’s cheque and what the runner-up (£400,000) would receive.

MVG added: “In my opinion, a second place should never be lower than half of the top prize anyway. In any sport. That’s what I think.”