In a thrilling showcase of darts prowess, 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler has surged closer to Nathan Aspinall in the 2025 PDC European Tour Order of Merit, propelled by his electrifying victory at the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp from August 29 to 31. Littler’s fourth European Tour title, secured with an 8-7 triumph over Josh Rock in a gripping final, earned him a £30,000 prize and tightened the race for the top spot as the season heads toward its climax. The top 32 players on the Order of Merit will qualify for the European Championship in Dortmund from October 23 to 26, but several big names remain at risk of missing out, intensifying the stakes in this high-octane darts campaign.
Littler’s Antwerp performance was a masterclass in resilience and precision. Starting with a 6-0 demolition of Dylan Slevin in the second round, where he hit 100% of his doubles and averaged over 101, Littler set the tone early. “When I came up on stage, it just felt like home. I love coming here. I’m glad to play well tonight and now I can focus on tomorrow,” he said, reflecting the confidence that carried him through the tournament. He followed with a hard-fought win over Ryan Searle in the third round and a dramatic quarterfinal against Damon Heta, clinching victory with a nerveless 79 checkout on double 11. In the semifinals, Littler dismantled Daryl Gurney 7-1, conceding just one leg while averaging over 99. The final against Rock was a seesaw battle, with Littler trailing 5-2 before staging a comeback with a 76 checkout and an 11-dart break of throw to level at 5-5. He sealed the title with an 11-dart leg on double 18, averaging over 107 and landing nine 180s. “I want to win here, but it’s only my first game. Six out of six on the doubles, I don’t usually get that, so I’m very happy,” Littler remarked after his opening match, a sentiment that echoed his dominance throughout.
The Flanders Darts Trophy, with its £175,000 prize fund, saw Aspinall absent, giving Littler a chance to close the gap. Aspinall, who claimed the top spot earlier in 2025 with victories at the European Darts Trophy and European Darts Open, holds a lead with £50,500, but Littler’s £38,500 places him joint third with Michael van Gerwen. Martin Schindler leads with £58,500 after his Austrian Darts Open win, while Stephen Bunting trails Littler with £32,500. Ross Smith, Mike de Decker, Ryan Joyce, and Josh Rock round out the top eight, but notable names like Luke Humphries, the world number one, languish at 19th with £6,000, alongside Cameron Menzies, Jonny Clayton, and Stephen Bunting. Humphries’ early exits, including a 6-1 loss to Aspinall in Göttingen, highlight his struggles on the European Tour despite his global dominance.
Other top players, including Rob Cross, Chris Dobey, Peter Wright, and Gary Anderson, are notably absent from the top 32, having failed to accrue ranking points after early eliminations in seeded matches at events like the Belgian Darts Open. The qualification structure, where seeded players must win at least one match to earn prize money toward the Order of Merit, has left these stars vulnerable. Cross, Wright, and Anderson, all major champions, face the prospect of missing Dortmund unless they make deep runs in remaining events like the Baltic Sea Darts Open (July 11-13) or the Czech Darts Open. “Everything he does will be under the microscope. But he seems to handle it all so effortlessly,” a commentator noted of Littler, whose ability to thrive under pressure contrasts with the struggles of his rivals.
The European Tour’s expanded 2025 schedule, now featuring 14 events, has intensified competition, with Littler’s absence from earlier tournaments like the International Darts Open in Riesa allowing Aspinall to seize the lead. Aspinall’s path included wins over Ritchie Edhouse, Jermaine Wattimena, Humphries, Anderson, and Joyce in Göttingen, followed by a final appearance in Riesa, where he fell 8-5 to Bunting. His resilience, despite past battles with dartitis, has been remarkable. “This is what I needed, probably my proudest moment,” Aspinall said after his Göttingen triumph, a sentiment that underscores his resurgence. Littler, however, is closing fast, his Antwerp win boosting his chances of overtaking Aspinall and Schindler before the Dortmund cutoff.
As the race for the European Championship intensifies, the absence of top names like Humphries and Cross adds intrigue. Littler’s meteoric rise, marked by his 2023 World Youth Championship and 2025 PDC World Championship titles, positions him as a favorite to challenge for the top spot. With upcoming events and a stacked schedule, including the World Grand Prix in Leicester, the battle for Dortmund qualification promises more drama, as Littler and Aspinall lead a fiercely competitive field vying for European Tour supremacy.
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