Overview
- Michael van Gerwen urged a switch to a points-based list, but Littler backed the prize-money Order of Merit with £1m on offer to the champion.
- The world No. 1 sits on £1,970,500 in the two-year rankings, ahead of Luke Humphries on £1,572,000 and van Gerwen on £681,250.
- Littler said his priority is retaining the title rather than the payout, noting it has been a decade since anyone won the Worlds in successive years.
- The World Championship at Alexandra Palace carries a record £5m purse, with the winner’s cheque likely to reshape the standings.
- Stephen Bunting highlighted Gian van Veen, Wessel Nijman and Beau Greaves as rising threats, with Greaves drawn to face No 22 seed Daryl Gurney in round one.