Michael van Gerwen has given his stance on this PDC rule change (Image: Getty)
Michael van Gerwen admitted that the ’s European Tour rule change is ‘the right thing’ after lower-ranked players condemned the action. It was announced earlier in January that tournaments would now see the top 16 players in the world progress directly to the second round.
These premier players are also to be seeded, while those who sit only within the Pro Tour Order of Merit’s top 16 will still only get a starting first-round spot.
While some outside the illustrious PDC top 16 – who previously only gained entry to the competition through their rank, not a bye – have , claiming it offers the star players further protection, instead admits that this change has been a long time coming and was the right thing to do.
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“Of course, it benefits us, but it was also not the best rule,” admitted Van Gerwen at the Dutch Darts Masters. “In every sport, the top in the world, the top six in the world, are always ranked. That’s how it is.
“How is it possible that, say, whoever it is, is a higher seed than Luke Humphries? You don’t see that in any other sport so why did you see that in darts?
“I’ve spoken to Matt Porter (PDC CEO) about this. I’m always trying to improve [the sport]. We also need to be realistic. We don’t have as many characters like we used to have.
“Of course, there is other people stepping up, but time moves on, times change, and you have to do the right thing for that product, and I think this rule is how this rule should have been, and it’s the right thing.”
Van Gerwen approves of the change (Image: Getty)
However, for those who sit on the fringe of the top 16, and are not comfortably within it like the Green Machine, this alteration has not been met with such open arms. Ryan Searle, currently ranked 19th, took to social media after the changes were announced, and made his disgruntled feelings crystal clear.
“What is the point of the ProTour Order of Merit? The one that shows the true form and consistency of players. Asking for a friend,” the man nicknamed Heavy Metal posted to X.
Searle was queried about his condemnation after edging out Chris Dobey in the opening round of the revamped 2025 PDC Winmau World Masters and elaborated on his post.
“Obviously, I’m not happy about that, because I’m not in the top 16 yet. The top 16 are protected as it is anyway, and that only makes it worse,” he stated. “So yeah, obviously I do a lot of travelling going to all the Euro Tours, I try and do as many Pro Tours as I can and it just feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth.”