Starting at 1 p.m., the nineteenth Players Championship tournament of the year gets underway in Milton Keynes. The 128-strong field of participants features a depleted field with many top names deciding against playing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Michael van Gerwen will lead the way as the top name. He makes his return for the first time since dental surgery and he has been out since the World Matchplay until yesterday. He faces Karel Sedlacek.
Read also
Peter Wright is also involved, as is Dimitri van den Bergh and Stephen Bunting. Damon Heta sealed the first title of the week yesterday by defeating Ryan Searle in the final with both being ProTour standouts. Dave Chisnall is top seed today.
Luke Littler has decided against playing this week, the same can be said for Luke Humphries and most of the World Series contingent aside from Heta, Van den Bergh, Whitlock and Wright. The Aussie in particular said after his win that if he didn't come it could be a title that he might win and he doesn't have time to lose.
Others involved have money to defend such as Wright so in reality it is no shock to see them involved. While others such as Michael Smith instead are spending a month or so off the oche in order to recoup with majors coming thick and fast towards the end of the year.
A total of 125,000 pounds in prize money is distributed at each Players Championship tournament. The winner of the event will receive a check for 15,000 pounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Draw Players Championship 19
Last 128
Dave Chisnall - | - Jurjen van der Velde
Justin Hood - | - Jose De Sousa
Dimitri Van den Bergh - | - Stefan Bellmont
Andy Boulton - | - Chris Landman
Raymond van Barneveld - | - Dom Taylor
Brett Claydon - | - Christian Perez
Krzysztof Ratajski - | - Mensur Suljovic
Vincent van der Voort - | - Geert Nentjes
Martin Schindler - | - Ryan Meikle
Franz Roetzsch - | - Owen Roelofs
James Wade - | - Jules van Dongen
Adam Hunt - | - Ian White
Chris Dobey - | - Niels Zonneveld
Rowby-John Rodriguez - | - Jelle Klaasen
Luke Woodhouse - | - Michele Turetta
Andy Baetens - | - Jamie Atkins
Damon Heta - | - Pascal Rupprecht
Jim Williams - | - Matthew Dennant
Dirk van Duijvenbode - | - Boris Krcmar
Berry van Peer - | - Maik Kuivenhoven
Daryl Gurney - | - Arron Monk
Keegan Brown - | - John Henderson
Mike De Decker - | - Cam Crabtree
Wessel Nijman - | - George Killington
Danny Noppert - | - Joshua Richardson
Scott Williams - | - Madars Razma
Kevin Doets - | - Stephen Burton
Steve Beaton - | - Callum Goffin
Ricardo Pietreczko - | - Robbie Knops
Richie Burnett - | - Mervyn King
Brendan Dolan - | - Martijn Dragt
Lee Evans - | - Josh Payne
Ross Smith - | - Benjamin Reus
Matt Campbell - | - Graham Hall
Jermaine Wattimena - | - Robert Grundy
Christian Kist - | - Rhys Griffin
Ryan Joyce - | - James Hurrell
William O'Connor - | - Lukas Wenig
Peter Wright - | - Adam Warner
Martin Lukeman - | - Simon Whitlock
Stephen Bunting - | - Adam Gawlas
Jeffrey De Graaf - | - Jamie Hughes
Andrew Gilding - | - Dylan Slevin
Danny Lauby - | - Wesley Plaisier
Gian van Veen - | - Keane Barry
Jitse Van der Wal - | - Daniel Klose
Cameron Menzies - | - Ricky Evans
Rene Eidams - | - Steve Lennon
Josh Rock - | - William Borland
Alan Soutar - | - Jeffrey De Zwaan
Gabriel Clemens - | - Graham Usher
Danny van Trijp - | - Patrick Geeraets
Jonny Clayton - | - Mickey Mansell
Nick Kenny - | - Tim Wolters
Ritchie Edhouse - | - Danny Jansen
Thibault Tricole - | - Lee Cocks
Ryan Searle - | - Kim Huybrechts
Mario Vandenbogaerde - | - Owen Bates
Callan Rydz - | - Kai Gotthardt
Richard Veenstra - | - Jeffrey Sparidaans
Michael van Gerwen - | - Karel Sedlacek
Florian Hempel - | - Darren Beveridge
Joe Cullen - | - Nathan Rafferty
Robert Owen - | - Connor Scutt

Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 3visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026






