DRAW PDC Players Championship 26 | Michael van Gerwen withdraws as Beau Greaves leads Hildesheim field

Michael van Gerwen will not compete at Players Championship 26 after being omitted from the final draw in Hildesheim. The Dutchman had initially been included among the entries but has withdrawn one day after reaching the last 16 of Players Championship 25.

His absence leaves Beau Greaves among the leading attractions in Wednesday’s 128-player field. The reigning Women’s World Matchplay champion begins against Adam Paxton as she looks to continue a remarkable debut season on the PDC ProTour.

Greaves became the first woman to win a PDC senior ranking title at Players Championship 11 and has already produced a nine-dart finish on the circuit.

She also reached the last 16 of Tuesday’s tournament, where her run was ended by eventual semi-finalist Niko Springer.

The most intriguing storyline from the previous day belongs to Henry Coates, who produced a major shock by winning Players Championship 25 as a Challenge Tour replacement.

The 20-year-old defeated Damon Heta 8-4 in the final, averaging 104.88 to become only the fifth non-Tour Card holder to win a PDC ranking title. His reward is an immediate return to action against experienced Latvian Madars Razma.

Coates will now have to deal with a completely different challenge. He arrived at Tuesday’s event with little attention surrounding him, but will begin Players Championship 26 as the man every opponent wants to beat.

Heta also returns after his run to the final and has been drawn against former Tour Card holder Harry Ward. Springer, meanwhile, faces two-time World Championship semi-finalist Scott Waites after reaching the last four at PC25.

Wessel Nijman begins against Pero Ljubic as the Dutchman attempts to strengthen his commanding position at the top of the 2026 Players Championship Order of Merit. Nijman has won six titles during a dominant campaign, making him the circuit’s most successful player this season.

Former world champions Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld are also involved. Smith faces Radek Szaganski, Wright takes on Jim Long and Van Barneveld opens against Ben Townley.

Several of Germany’s leading players have potentially difficult assignments on home soil. Martin Schindler meets Alan Soutar, Gabriel Clemens plays Niall Culleton and Ricardo Pietreczko faces Martin Lukeman.

One of the standout first-round ties sees Scott Williams meet Callan Rydz. Both players are dangerous scorers capable of making deep ProTour runs, while Kim Huybrechts against Ritchie Edhouse and Dirk van Duijvenbode against James Hurrell also catch the eye.

Chris Dobey, already a two-time Players Championship winner this season, starts against Chris Landman. Gian van Veen will attempt to respond to his early PC25 defeat when he meets Benjamin Pratnemer, while former major champion Mike De Decker faces Bradley Brooks.