03/11/2023

Draw confirmed for 2023 Players Championship Finals as defending champion Michael van Gerwen to open against Callan Rydz

The draw has been completed after the conclusion of the ProTour season for the Players Championship Finals, with the top 64 players to descend on Minehead between November 26-29.

Michael van Gerwen claimed a record extending seventh Players Championship Finals title last year and will open up his defence against Callan Rydz.

"I didn't want to qualify because I wanted to make her birthday special" - Nathan Aspinall puts family first explaining absence from Players Championship Finals

Gerwyn Price is top seed after winning four titles this year and will face Ricky Evans due to seeding. Gary Anderson is number two as he returns to his technically local venue and faces Steve Beaton.

Dave Chisnall who topped the overall ProTour Order of Merit and has won five titles this season is set to face Lee Evans. Other standout ties include Chris Dobey vs Raymond van Barneveld, Michael Smith facing Richard Veenstra and Luke Humphries taking on Martin Lukeman.

Peter Wright definitely out of Players Championship Finals after early loss in final ProTour

Big misses from the tournament include Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall. Both have not been in the best form this season on the ProTour, with the latter saying it was done for a reason due to his partner Kirsty turning 30 and him spending all of his recent years in Minehead instead of celebrating.

But the fact still remains that two of the top major champions will be big misses and in the case of Wright, winners money will fall off from two years ago.

The sixteenth edition of the Players Championship Finals will take place from Nov. 24 to 26. Last year, Van Gerwen won the tournament by beating Rob Cross 11-6 in the final.