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The new world ranking system is based on the money players earn from tournaments, with the PDC offering £2.5 million in prize money in 2007 alone.

Phil Taylor has earned the right to call himself World No.1. The new list is based on money won over a two-year period, starting after the World Championship in 2005. Any cash won by players will be lost on the two-year anniversary of a tournament but it will take something special to knock ‘The Power’ off his perch.

It also guaranteed that Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld will be seeded No.1 and No.2 at the ‘Major’ TV tournaments, so battle will re-commence between these two darting icons.

Taylor has earned £337,263 in prize money over the last two years and that doesn’t include the Holsten Premier League, which isn’t included in the ranking system. Barney has pocketed nearly £165,000 in just ten months in the PDC – helped of course, by the £100,000 he earned from winning the World Championship.

Unicorn star Colin Lloyd is ranked No.3, with Peter Manley 4th and Adrian Lewis 6th. The new system has certainly benefited John Part. Unicorn’s former World Champion was dropping down the old ranking system last year but now makes the top 10.

James Wade is World No.11 – just reward for a great 12 months – but Andy Hamilton is one of the big movers. ‘The Hammer’ has made a name for himself as a true Contender and his run to the semi-finals at the Circus Tavern and a cheque for £20,000, takes him to World No.14.

Kevin Painter will be the first to admit that he has a lot of work to do during 2007. He has dropped to 18th, with Wes Newton 24th and Bob Anderson has deservedly held his place in the elite of the sport, at No.26.

Despite failing to qualify for Purfleet, Ray Carver is World No.46 and Wynand Havenga’s heroics at the World Championship take him straight into the top 60 in the new system. Michael Barnard will be hoping for a big year, because he has slipped to No.76

Most of the players will be straight back into action on Saturday in Newcastle, for the UK Open North East Regional tournament. Phil Taylor won’t be action – he is taking a well-earned break.

PDC ORDER OF MERIT:

1) Phil Taylor - £337,263
2) Raymond Van Barneveld - £164,733
3) Colin Lloyd - £109,703
4) Peter Manley - £99,836
5) Dennis Priestley - £70,740
6) Adrian Lewis - £70,244
7) Terry Jenkins - £70,084
8) Roland Scholten - £69,311
9) Wayne Mardle - £67,137
10) John Part - £62,188
11) James Wade - £60,236
12) Ronnie Baxter - £58,157
13) Andy Jenkins - £57,728
14) Andy Hamilton - £53,998
15) Mark Walsh - £50,369
16) Chris Mason - £48,642
17) Barrie Bates - £48,548
18) Kevin Painter - £47,233
19) Denis Ovens - £46,298
20) Mark Dudbridge - £44,018

Selected others:

24) Wes Newton - £34,767
26) Bob Anderson - £33,283
46) Ray Carver - £12,178
57) Wynand Havenga - £8,500
76) Michael Barnard - £4,985

BY STUART PYKE