Big names missing from the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts as multiple world champions, major winners and household stars fail to qualify
PDCFriday, 07 November 2025 at 12:30
The 2025 Grand Slam of Darts is about to get underway in Wolverhampton, with 32 players set to compete for the prestigious Eric Bristow Trophy. But while the field remains packed with world-class talent, several household names won’t be walking out under the Aldersley lights this November.
From former world champions to proven title winners, a number of darting heavyweights have failed to qualify — some through poor form, others through pure misfortune. Here’s a look at the most notable absentees from this year’s tournament, and the stories behind them.
Rob Cross – A costly miss for ‘Voltage’
For the first time since his PDC debut in 2017, Rob Cross will also be missing from Wolverhampton. It’s a significant blow for the 2018 world champion, who was runner-up at the Grand Slam two years ago — a result that now drops off his ranking, costing him vital ground on the Order of Merit.
Cross opened 2025 in style with a win at Players Championship 1 but has failed to reach a single major quarter-final since. One Euro Tour quarter-final and inconsistent floor form have made for a forgettable campaign, compounded by rumoured off-oche issues with the tax authorities.
Ranked ninth in the world, Cross is the highest-ranked player to miss out on this year’s event.
Ross Smith – Two titles, still not enough
Ross Smith’s season reads well on paper — two Players Championship wins should be enough to guarantee a Grand Slam berth. But such is the competitiveness of the qualification system that even that wasn’t sufficient.
‘Smudger’ came close through the Euro Tour route, reaching the final of the Austrian Darts Open before losing to Martin Schindler, who claimed the Grand Slam invite instead. Smith has appeared at the event only four times before (2013, 2019, 2022 and 2024), and 2025 continues that on-and-off trend.
Mike De Decker – The breakthrough that stalled
Just a year ago, Mike De Decker was hailed as the next big thing after his shock World Grand Prix triumph. But the Belgian’s rise has lost momentum.
‘The Real Deal’ reached the final of the Belgian Darts Open early in 2025, losing to Luke Littler, but has since struggled to build on that momentum. Early exits on the Euro Tour and modest floor results have cost him dearly.
It’s a contrast to last year’s Grand Slam, where De Decker famously led Littler 8–4 and 9–7 before losing 10–9 — a match that could have changed his career trajectory.
Peter Wright — A long run finally broken
Peter Wright’s twelve-year streak of Grand Slam appearances ends in 2025.
The two-time world champion failed to qualify at the Tour Card Holders’ event in Wigan, losing 5–0 in his opening match to Connor Scutt. Wright looked short of rhythm, averaging below his usual levels, and the heavy loss followed an earlier surprise defeat at Players Championship 34.
Once a perennial finalist at the Grand Slam, the Scot’s scoring and consistency have dipped this season, leaving him outside the seed positions for the World Championship unless form improves fast.
Ryan Searle — Heavy Metal left off the bill again
For the second consecutive year, Ryan Searle will not feature in Wolverhampton. Despite picking up two Players Championship titles this season, his performances elsewhere haven’t been enough to secure qualification.
Two Euro Tour quarter-finals and a string of early exits from majors leave ‘Heavy Metal’ short of the mark. Searle’s four previous Grand Slam campaigns have yielded little success — three group-stage exits and a solitary run to the last 16 in 2023 — but his scoring power means he’ll still be missed.
Dave Chisnall – Slide continues for ‘Chizzy’
Dave Chisnall’s 2025 season has gone from bad to worse. Having already missed the World Grand Prix for the first time since 2011, the St Helens thrower now finds himself absent from the Grand Slam as well — a fate he’s suffered only three times before (2012, 2018, 2021).
Chisnall had made Wolverhampton a near-annual stop through his Euro Tour success, winning six events between 2022 and 2024. But this year, he’s managed just two quarter-final appearances and little else of note. His form has nosedived, and with it his ranking — from world number six down to nineteenth.
For a player with Chisnall’s pedigree and scoring power, the decline has been alarmingly steep.
Jermaine Wattimena – The form player who fell short
In terms of sheer form, Jermaine Wattimena is perhaps the most surprising absentee of all. The Dutchman has been superb in 2025, claiming his first two PDC ranking titles and climbing towards the world’s top 20.
But the Grand Slam berth eluded him by the narrowest of margins. He finished one floor title shy of automatic qualification and narrowly missed out in the Tour Card Holders’ Qualifier, losing 5–4 to Lukas Wenig in the final round.
Wattimena’s rise has been one of the most impressive stories of the year, and his absence feels more like a delay than a denial. Expect him back among the elite soon.
The verdict
The Grand Slam of Darts has always stood apart — a unique mix of qualification routes that ensures both star quality and heartbreak. But this year’s line-up underlines the depth of competition in the modern game.
With Peter Wright, Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall all missing, the 2025 edition marks a clear generational shift. The torch is being passed to new contenders, and Wolverhampton could well be the stage where the sport’s next breakout star makes their move.
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