MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has called on the authorities to propose a change in the PDC Order of Merit ranking.
He wants to scrap the current ranking system for darts players, which is based on the total prize money a player has won over a two-year period.
For every pound a player wins in an event, it converts directly into one ranking point.
Van Gerwen has £681,250 to his name in the last two years, ranking him third behind Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.
Despite the huge amount of cash prizes, Van Gerwen wants to see a new model introduced.
Van Gerwen said: “We all know the Worlds is the most important [tournament] but it’s not in comparison anymore.
TIME TO DART
Barry Hearn hints at future venue for World Darts Championship amid demand
“They should have a points system, I say it every year.
“Maybe it’s a question you need to ask the PDC, then they might change things.”
The prize pot for the World Darts Championship has been increased to a record amount this year, making it even more weighted in the rankings.
The winner will now get £1MILLION – double the amount from last year.
Van Gerwen’s plea for a points-based system is employed in professional tennis.
Major events like the ATP & WTA currently score tennis players by points, not by how much they’ve won in prize money in the last two years.
If the rule is changed, it will see darts players not relying on a single event to boost their ranking.
Mighty Mike will be hoping to prove he’s still one of the world’s best after a difficult year.
After claiming glory in his home country World Series Finals and The German Darts Grand Prix, he has opened up about the difficulties he has faced in his personal life.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I have had a tough year, probably my worst year ever.
“I used to have a wife who helped me with things but now when I have the kids, I have to look after them.”
