Nathan Aspinall has moved up to sixth on the PDC Order of Merit after winning the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open in Leverkusen on Sunday.
Aspinall defeated Australian number one Damon Heta 8-6 in a thrilling final at the Ostermann-Arena, averaging over a ton to clinch his second European Tour title of the campaign.
The Stockport star also overcame Bradley Brooks, Ricardo Pietreczko, Chris Dobey and Wessel Nijman to pocket the £30,000 top prize and clinch his ninth PDC ranking title.
Despite missing out on a second European Tour crown, Heta impressed throughout the weekend, missing double 12 for a nine-darter in his opening round tie against Mickey Mansell.
The 37-year-old also saw off Andreas Harrysson, Matt Campbell and Jonny Clayton to reach Sunday’s showpiece, which saw him climb two places to world number eight.
Rob Cross – absent from last weekend’s event - has slipped three places to ninth on the PDC Order of Merit, while James Wade has fallen to tenth following his last 16 exit in Leverkusen.
Elsewhere, Nijman is closing in on a place in the world’s top 40, having featured in back-to-back European Tour semi-finals during the last fortnight.
Germany’s Niko Springer is also on the rise following his breakthrough run at the recent Dutch Darts Championship, where he became the fourth German player to feature in a European Tour final.
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 from June 17-19, when Players Championships 17-19 take place at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena - watch live on PDCTV.
