Professional Darts Players to Watch: Profiles and Rising Stars
- 20 hours ago
- 8 min read
SUMMARY
Who this is for: Darts fans, hobbyist players, and anyone who wants to know more about the names making headlines on the PDC and BDO circuit.
Key takeaways:
Luke Littler has gone from teenage prodigy to world number one in under two years.
Damon 'The Heat' Heta is still the Southern Hemisphere's biggest name in professional darts.
Fallon Sherrock changed the sport forever and is still competing at the highest level.
Several younger PDC tour card holders are quietly building serious careers to watch.
The gear these players use is often available right here at Bullseye Darts NZ.
What's inside:
Profiles of today's top professional darts players
Rising stars earning their PDC tour cards and making noise
What makes each player's game unique
A look at the darts they throw
Darts isn't what it was ten years ago. The professional game has exploded. Prize money is up, TV coverage is wider than ever, and a new wave of professional darts players is making the sport impossible to ignore. Some of them grew up idolising Phil Taylor. Others picked up a set of darts last week and are already throwing averages that would have turned heads at the Lakeside.
Whether you follow every PDC tour event or you just want to know who the names are when you see them on TV, this guide covers the players worth knowing. We've pulled together honest profiles on some of the biggest names, plus a few rising stars who might be household names within the next couple of years.
Luke Littler: The Teenager Who Changed Everything
Nobody expected what Luke Littler did at the 2024 World Championship. He was 16. He reached the final. He walked away without the title that year, but what he showed the sport was something different. Composed. Clinical. Averaging over 100 in multiple rounds against players with decades of experience.
Since then he has won multiple major events and climbed to the top of the world rankings. He's a professional darts player who barely needs an introduction anymore. His throwing style is compact and quiet. His doubles conversion under pressure is exceptional. The nickname 'The Nuke' suits him: there's not much drama in how he plays, but the damage is real.
He plays with Target darts, and if you're looking for Target barrels, Bullseye Darts stocks a solid range of Target products.
Damon 'The Heat' Heta: The Southern Hemisphere's Finest
For anyone in New Zealand or Australia, Damon Heta is the name that matters most. The Western Australian has been a PDC tour card holder since 2018 and has consistently been one of the better players on the floor. Not always the loudest name in the draw, but consistently dangerous.
Heta plays with a calm, reliable style. He doesn't flash. He doesn't celebrate big until the job is done. His three-dart average across a full PDC season regularly sits above 95, and in his better matches he pushes north of 100 without breaking a sweat. He's beaten some of the best in the world on big stages.
As one of the few professional darts players representing the southern hemisphere on the main tour, he's got a following here in NZ that's well earned. He throws Mission darts, and if that's a brand you want to explore, you can browse the Mission range at Bullseye Darts.
Fallon Sherrock: Still Going, Still Turning Heads
Fallon Sherrock made history at Alexandra Palace in 2019 when she became the first woman to beat a man at the PDC World Championships. Ted Evetts. Then Mensur Suljovic. She didn't just win. She dominated those matches.
She has continued to compete at the highest level and holds a PDC tour card, making her a full-time professional darts player among the men on the circuit. Not on the women's tour. On the main PDC development tour and women's series, competing week in, week out.
The conversation around Sherrock too often focuses on her gender rather than her game. The game speaks for itself. She hits her doubles, she handles pressure, and she's been doing it consistently for years. She throws Target darts and her name is now synonymous with darts getting a new audience across the world.
Michael van Gerwen: Still the Benchmark
There is no list of professional darts players that doesn't include MvG. Three world titles. More major titles than most players have legs on the tour. He has been the measuring stick for the entire sport for over a decade.
Van Gerwen plays at a pace that most opponents find difficult to handle. Fast checkout route identification, exceptional scoring power on the treble 20, and a doubles game that stays sharp under pressure. The Dutchman has had challengers come close, and he's had patches where he's looked vulnerable, but he keeps coming back.
He throws Winmau darts. If that interests you, the Winmau range is available here.
Rising Stars: The Pro Darts Players to Follow Now
The PDC Development Tour is where most of tomorrow's big names are sharpening their game right now. Earning and keeping a PDC tour card at 18 or 19 is hard. Most players struggle to get there before their mid-twenties. Here's who to watch.
Josh Rock
The Northern Irishman earned his PDC tour card and made an immediate impact. Powerful scoring, good finishing, and a mental game that doesn't seem to wobble the way a lot of young players do. He throws Red Dragon, a brand that carries both signature and stock barrels. Check out the Red Dragon range at Bullseye Darts.
Beau Greaves
Two-time world women's champion. Still only in her early twenties. Her scoring power is off the charts. She went unbeaten for long stretches on the women's tour and posted nine-dart averages in exhibition formats that left seasoned players watching in disbelief. She's the kind of rising star who already has a serious career behind her and is still improving.
Bradley Brooks
NZ/AU fans, take note. Shot Darts ambassador and a legitimate professional darts player building real results on the PDC Development Tour. His Shot Pro Series is available right here, and backing local talent by throwing what they throw is a good reason to take a look at the Shot Darts range.
What Makes a Pro Darts Player Different From the Rest
The honest answer? Not always what you think.
At the professional level, almost everyone scores big. A 180 is not impressive at a PDC event. A 100-plus average is expected in high-stakes matches. What separates the elite professional darts players from the rest is doubles. The ability to hit the right double the first time, under pressure, with a match on the line.
Checkout percentage is tracked obsessively. The best in the world hit roughly 45-55% of their doubles opportunities. Average players might be doing well to hit 35%. That gap is where championships are won and lost.
Then there's equipment. Every pro has a setup that suits their grip, their throw, their release. Most use tungsten barrels of 90% or higher purity, because the density means a slimmer barrel without losing weight. Thinner barrels mean tighter groupings. Tighter groupings mean better chances at big scores and cleaner triples.
If you're building your own setup and want to understand what professional players actually use, browse the full darts range at Bullseye Darts to find the right tungsten barrels for your game.
Key Takeaways
Professional darts players like Luke Littler and MvG have pushed the average ceiling higher than ever.
Damon Heta is the best-known pro from our part of the world and a legitimate top-tier competitor.
Rising stars like Josh Rock, Beau Greaves, and Bradley Brooks are names to know now.
What separates pros from amateurs isn't big scoring. It's consistent finishing on doubles.
Most pro darts players throw 90% tungsten barrels. The brands they use are stocked right here.
Shop the Same Brands the Pros Throw
You don't need a PDC tour card to throw quality darts. The same brands these players trust are available at Bullseye Darts, shipped anywhere in New Zealand and Australia. Whether you're drawn to the weight and feel of a Mission barrel like Heta, or you want to try the Red Dragon setup that Josh Rock swears by, we've got you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Darts Players
Who is currently the world's number one professional darts player?
Luke Littler has risen to the top of the PDC world rankings in recent years, having made his mark at the World Championships at just 16 years old. Rankings shift throughout the year based on tour results, so it's worth checking the PDC website for the latest standings.
How do players earn their PDC tour card?
A PDC tour card is earned through Q-School, a qualifying event held each year where players compete for a limited number of two-year tour cards. Without a tour card, players can compete in Development Tour events but not the full PDC floor events. It's one of the hardest things to earn in professional darts.
Is Damon Heta the top ranked darts player from Australasia?
Damon Heta has consistently been the highest-ranked professional darts player from the southern hemisphere on the PDC circuit. He's an Auckland-area fan favourite and a real source of regional pride in the darts community across NZ and Australia.
What darts does Luke Littler use?
Luke Littler plays with Target darts. He has a signature setup with specific barrel dimensions, weight, and grip pattern developed with Target. If you want to explore the Target range, Bullseye Darts carries a variety of Target barrels, stems, and flights.
What weight darts do professional players typically use?
Most professional darts players use barrels in the 22g to 26g range. The most common weights cluster around 22g and 24g. Heavier darts (28g+) are less common at the top level but not unheard of. It comes down to personal preference and throwing mechanics.
Can beginners buy the same type of darts as professionals?
Yes. Pro players use tungsten barrels that are commercially available and sold to the public. The signature sets are often slightly pricier, but the underlying barrel specifications are similar to mid-tier stock darts. You don't need to spend a fortune to throw a quality setup.
Who is considered the greatest professional darts player of all time?
Phil Taylor is widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the sport, with 16 World Championship titles. Michael van Gerwen is the most dominant player of the modern era with three world titles and a record average that's still considered the benchmark.
Are there New Zealand professional darts players on the PDC circuit?
New Zealand has had players compete on the PDC circuit over the years. Bradley Brooks is a notable name with Shot Darts sponsorship and growing results on the development tour. Damon Heta, though Australian, has a large NZ following given the shared darts culture across the Tasman.
What is a 'rising star' in professional darts?
The term generally refers to young players who have recently earned their PDC tour card or are climbing through the development rankings. Beau Greaves, Josh Rock, and Luke Littler were all considered rising stars before their recent wins put them firmly in the top tier.
Where can I buy darts from brands used by pro players in New Zealand?
Bullseye Darts stocks Target, Winmau, Red Dragon, Mission, Shot, and other top brands used by professional players. Orders ship from Auckland, typically reaching customers within a few days.
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