‘I think that’s a no-no’ – Gary Anderson urges darts chiefs to make rule change after European Championship defeat
GARY ANDERSON has called on darts chiefs to make a huge change that could impact the way stars qualify for the World Championship.
Anderson, 53, is ranked 19th in the PDC Order of Merit, which determines the players who qualify for the World Championships.
The reason behind the two-time world champion not ranking higher is due to his low activity in European Tour legs.
Currently, points earned on the European Tour count towards the ProTour Order of Merit, in which Anderson is ranked 13th, from which the top 32 also qualify.
However, Anderson has now called on ranking points earned on European Tours to be ranked separately from other tours to stop players who do not compete in them from slipping down the order.
He said: “Ever since they started putting the European money on the overall merit [in 2016], the main ranking, it’s hard.
“You know, I’ve not done Europeans for eight years. And you’ve got to remember, I stayed in the top 10 for about six of the eight years [while] missing all the Europeans.
“So [the way] I look at it, I’ve done well to do that.”
The Flying Scotsman has returned to the European Tour this year, winning an event in Sindelfingen, Germany in April.
Anderson crashed out at the European Championships in Dortmund over the weekend at the quarter-final stage against Ritchie Edhouse.
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He added: “The Europeans, the money goes on to your overall rankings.
“And then the only way you can play in the [European Tour] finals is to play in the Europeans.
“But I don’t think it should go on to the overall rankings. I think that’s a no-no.”
Those who do not compete in the European Tour events or are unable to qualify would have a higher chance of qualifying for the World Championships.
However, this would naturally have the reverse impact for those who have had more success on the tour.
For instance, this year’s European Tour leader, Martin Schindler, is ranked No.23 in the main Order of Merit.
But he would lose several spots in that main order, with the likes of Raymond van Barneveld and Gabriel Clemens both moving ahead of him.
The Grand Slam of Darts takes place in Leicester next month, with the Players Championship final coming a week later.
The World Championships then take place in December going into January.