The magic of the 100-plus average is fading on the PDC European Tour. After five tournaments of the 2026 season, only 66 matches have seen a player break the three-figure barrier — a sharp drop from 94 at the same stage in 2025 and 104 in 2024, according to data shared by TheRedBit.
The fifth event of the year, the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, Germany, was won by Gerwyn Price, who defeated Ross Smith 8-6 in the final. But the headline numbers tell a different story: the frequency of elite scoring has fallen significantly.
Several factors could explain the decline. Venue conditions — including temperature, air circulation, and lighting — can have a subtle but real impact on scoring. At the highest level, small variations can be the difference between a 98 average and a 100-plus. The form of top stars also plays a role. Players like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler, and Luke Humphries typically account for a large share of the high averages, but they have either been off-form or absent from multiple events this year.
Tournament format and draws are also relevant. Early rounds feature short matches, giving players less time to recover from a poor spell. One-sided games or fluctuating levels often mean the 100 mark is narrowly missed. Finally, the 2024 season may have been an outlier — an exceptionally strong year — meaning the current drop could partly be a return to a more normal level.
Whether this trend continues will become clearer over the coming tournaments. If the number of 100-plus averages remains low, it could signal a structural shift. For now, it appears to be a combination of form, conditions, and natural fluctuation within the sport.
