QUICK ANSWER
Rankings are based entirely on prize money — no points, no coefficients.
The PDC Order of Merit adds up every pound a player has earned across all PDC events over the last two years. The player with the most prize money is ranked number 1. That’s it.
Below: how the two-year window works, when rankings update, and exactly how your position determines your seeding, your major entry, and whether you keep your Tour Card.
The PDC Order of Merit is the official ranking system of the Professional Darts Corporation. It determines who gets seeded at the World Championship, who enters major tournaments, and — most critically — who keeps their Tour Card at the end of each two-year cycle.
How the prize money system works
Every PDC event — from the World Championship to a Saturday Players Championship floor event — pays out prize money in British pounds sterling. That money is credited to each player’s Order of Merit total the moment the event ends. It then stays on their total for exactly two years from that date.
Earn
Prize Money Credited
Every result at every PDC event — from first-round exits to championship wins — adds to your total immediately.
Rank
Position Calculated
Players are ranked in descending order of total prize money. The player with the most money earned is ranked #1.
Drop
Money Expires
Exactly two years after it was earned, that prize money disappears from the total. Players must constantly replace expiring earnings.
What your ranking position controls
Your position on the Order of Merit is not just a number. It directly determines your access to tournaments, seedings, and professional status.
| Ranking Threshold | What It Unlocks |
|---|---|
| Top 8 | Automatic World Series of Darts invitations |
| Top 16 | Automatic entry into all PDC majors |
| Top 32 | Seeded at the PDC World Championship |
| Top 64 | Automatic Tour Card retention at cycle end |
| Outside 64 | Must re-qualify via Q-School |
The rolling two-year window in practice
The two-year rolling window is the mechanism that keeps professional darts competitive. Because prize money expires exactly two years after it was earned, no player can coast on past results. A World Championship win in January 2024 disappears from the rankings in January 2026 — whether or not the player defends it.
This creates predictable flashpoints in the rankings. Every January, large World Championship sums expire for players from two years prior. Those who defended or improved their result see minimal change. Those who exited earlier lose substantial ranking money overnight — sometimes dropping 10 or more places in a single day without throwing a single dart.
When does the Order of Merit update?
Rankings update after every PDC event without exception. A Players Championship on Sunday afternoon triggers a ranking update by Monday morning. A World Championship final triggers an update within 24 hours. There is no waiting period and no batching of results — the Order of Merit is genuinely live.
WHY THIS MATTERS
A single major win can move you 30+ places overnight
A World Matchplay victory adds £130,000 to a player’s total in one weekend. A player ranked 40th could jump to inside the top 10 from a single win. Because every event updates the rankings immediately, you can watch positions change in real time across a full televised week.
Order of Merit vs World Championship seedings
The Order of Merit and World Championship seedings are related but not identical. World Championship seedings use a dedicated list based on performance over the 12 months immediately prior to the tournament — not the full two-year rolling window. A player who dominates the first half of a year but has a quiet autumn may find their World Championship seed is lower than their overall Order of Merit position.
KEY TAKEAWAY
The PDC Order of Merit is a pure prize money ranking. Rankings update after every event, prize money expires after two years, and your position directly determines seedings, major entry, and Tour Card status. There are no arbitrary points — just cumulative earnings over 24 months. Check the current PDC rankings to see where every active professional stands right now.
