10 Best Darts Players In The World Today
9. 9. Jelle Klaasen
If ever there was an example that becoming world champion at an early age was a negative rather than a positive, Jelle Klaasen was it but the quick throwing Dutchman has started to show what he is truly capable of.
For several years, the 2006 Lakeside winner spent time languishing down the PDC standings, but since reaching the final of a UK Open qualifier in February 2015, the 31-year-old has barely looked back.
During the following six months, he won two floor tournaments and reached the final of another event to set him up for the major televised competitions that were to follow, and he showed why he remains one of the best players in the world.
Klaasen beat Dave Chisnall, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade on the way to last-eight appearances at the World Grand Prix and European Championship before beating Phil Taylor at the World Championship as he reached the last four before losing to eventual winner Gary Anderson.
He missed out on a place in the Premier League but he quickly got over that setback by recording another last-four appearance in a major - this time at the UK Open. Like Smith, there is room for improvement as far as his consistency is concerned but he is registering in the region of one hundred more often than not now and poses a threat to any player in the world.