The 28th edition of the World Matchplay will start this Saturday. The field of participants includes seven debutants, which means a number of big names have fallen by the wayside this year.
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For example, no fewer than three players who have participated in the World Matchplay in the past ten editions are missing. A semi-finalist and a finalist from the 2018 edition will also not participate in Blackpool. See below the five biggest absentees during the upcoming edition.
First of all we start with a name who was involved but had to pull out due to medical reasons.
The Austrian has participated in the World Matchplay seven times in the past and even made it to the final in 2018 losing in an epic against Gary Anderson 21-19 seen by many as one of the greatest games ever to grace the Winter Gardens stage. He was replaced by Jermaine Wattimena.
Similarly from 2018's edition was a former semi-finalist in Jeffrey de Zwaan who did not come close to qualifying this year after an injury which has prevented him from reaching top form again after surgery.
De Zwaan had his big breakthrough back in 2018 defeating Michael van Gerwen (10-6) and also dealt with Adrian Lewis (11-9) and Dave Chisnall (16-8) before losing out to Gary Anderson 17-12.
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While one Aussie in Damon Heta makes his World Matchplay debut, another departs for the first time since 2009.
Simon Whitlock is the highest player on the PDC Order of Merit to miss out sitting 19th and he fell three places short through the Order of Merit and was 37th on the ProTour rankings.
A former semi-finalist in 2010 and 2014, he also resoundingly beat Michael van Gerwen one of multiple times last year in majors 11-4 in the second round.
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Adrian Lewis
There is also no place for Adrian Lewis in the field this year and that is for the first time since 2004. Jackpot previously made an appearance at the World Matchplay sixteen years in a row .
Lewis has struggled with his form for a long time, but the 2011 and 2012 world champion has been on an upward trend again in recent weeks. However, his revival came too late to really interfere in the battle for the qualifying spots.
Last year Lewis was still a quarterfinalist in this tournament and lost 16-12 to eventual champion Dimitri van den Bergh. He achieved his best result in 2013 with a place in the final, in 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2017 Lewis lost in the last four.
If you look at the number of participations in the past, Steve Beaton is the biggest absentee at the World Matchplay 2021. The Bronzed Adonis has already participated no less than 21 times.
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The former BDO World Champion made his debut in 1998 and played every year from 2001 to 2020.
Beaton did not achieve much success at this tournament. He has made it to the last eight only three times and Beaton has lost seven times in the first round in the past eight editions.
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- He produced some impressive numbers in that qualifying campaign. I'm excited to see him compete at the World Championship once again, even if it will be difficult to replicate last year's success even with an improved performance, with the draw playing a huge role in determining his fortunes.Deduce635811-11-2026
- I often think about this very question. I think they should revive the format. They could even invite representatives from MODUS Super Series, with four series winners from the past year, and the ADC, with finalists from the Global Championship and perhaps other events. Why not throw in eligible representatives from the JDC and even the soft-tip game too?Deduce635811-11-2026
- 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
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- 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