DRAW PDC Players Championship 30 | Luke Humphries, Josh Rock & Gary Anderson lead field as race to Minehead heats up

The Last 128 draw has been set at Players Championship 30, and while the headline names dominate the bracket, the opening round already carries the feel of a minefield. The world’s top players may be expected to cruise through, but recent form and tricky draws suggest nothing will come easy, especially with the race to Minehead heating up.

World No.1 Luke Humphries leads the field, but his opening clash with Ryan Meikle comes at a time when his floor results have been patchier than his usual sky-high standard. Humphries remains one of the benchmark performer of 2025, yet the danger in his section is clear: fresh Players Championship winner Ryan Searle is looming, and his first-round tie against José de Sousa is one of the stand-out matches of the round.

Another box-office encounter comes between Josh Rock and Callan Rydz. Rock continues to prove his week-in, week-out consistency, while Rydz’s raw scoring power makes him one of the toughest unseeded names in the draw. Whoever comes through could quickly gather momentum.

Elsewhere Jonny Clayton, who has been posting some of the highest averages on the floor in recent weeks. His opener against Thomas Lovely looks winnable, but Clayton’s recent tendency to mix brilliance with inconsistency means it is no foregone conclusion. Similarly, Peter Wright faces Connor Scutt with questions still lingering over whether the two-time world champion can rediscover the trophy-winning edge that has eluded him in 2025.

Veteran threats are also scattered through the draw. Gary Anderson meets fellow stalwart Mervyn King in a clash that feels like a throwback, while Raymond van Barneveld takes on Michele Turetta. James Wade, a seasoned floor performer with a knack for deep runs, faces Madars Razma in what should be a favourable opener, but Wade’s presence adds yet another layer of experience and danger to this stage.

With other seeds like Danny Noppert, Dave Chisnall, and Damon Heta drawn into testing openers, and rising names such as Martin Schindler, Gian van Veen, and Ricardo Pietreczko ready to pounce, this Last 128 looks anything but routine. Heavyweight collisions are guaranteed long before the final rounds, and at least one big name is almost certain to be packing early.

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