Littler closes gap on Humphries following World Grand Prix triumph

Luke Humphries & Luke Littler (PDC)

Luke Littler has closed the gap on Luke Humphries at the top of the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder following his BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix triumph on Sunday.

The world’s top two players went head-to-head in the double-start showpiece at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena, with Littler running out an emphatic 6-1 winner.

The World Champion also missed the bull for a spectacular nine-darter on his way to victory, as he pocketed the £120,000 top prize and celebrated his fourth televised ranking title of the campaign.

Humphries was featuring in his third consecutive World Grand Prix final, but Littler has now closed to within £70,750 of the world number one spot - a position occupied by Humphries since January 2024.

The 30-year-old defeated Danny Noppert in Saturday’s semi-finals, and the Dutchman’s impressive showing in Leicester has catapulted him back into the world’s top ten for the first time in over 18 months.

Noppert kicked off his campaign with a deciding-set victory over Jermaine Wattimena, before dumping out world number four Stephen Bunting and two-time World Champion Gary Anderson to advance to his second World Grand Prix semi-final.

Rob Cross and Josh Rock have also climbed two places to seventh and eighth respectively, despite suffering round two exits against Cameron Menzies and Gerwyn Price.

Price succumbed to eventual champion Littler in an extraordinary quarter-final tussle, but having failed to defend the £60,000 he earned at this event in 2023, the Welshman has slipped four places to world number 11.

Peter Wright has relinquished his place in the world’s top 16 following his opening round defeat to Mike De Decker, with Michael Smith falling to 27th after failing to qualify for the World Grand Prix for the first time since 2013.

Cameron Menzies defeated Premier League duo Chris Dobey and Cross to progress to his second televised ranking quarter-final in Leicester, and the Scottish star has subsequently risen to a career-high of world number 29.

Dirk van Duijvenbode is up to 30th having also reached the quarter-finals, while Joe Cullen now faces a battle to preserve his top 32 status after tumbling five places, despite his opening round victory over James Wade.

Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko has relinquished his place in the world’s top 32 after missing out on World Grand Prix qualification, although his younger compatriot Niko Springer has established himself in the top 64 after making his double-start debut at the Mattioli Arena.

The PDC Werner Rankings Ladder comprises prize money won over a two-year period by players in PDC ranking events - click here to view the full PDC Werner Rankings Ladder.

The PDC Werner Rankings Ladder will next be open to change this week, as Players Championships 31-32 take place at Wigan's Robin Park Leisure Centre on October 14-15 - watch live on PDCTV.

PDC Werner Rankings Ladder