The World Matchplay starts on Saturday 16 July with a field of 32 players. Among them are four debutants, while also some familiar names have failed to qualify for the tournament in Blackpool.
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In this article DartsNews.com takes a closer look at the five biggest absentees at the World Matchplay 2022.
For the past two seasons Glen Durrant, semi-finalist in 2019 and 2020, has been a seeded player at the World Matchplay, but this year 'Duzza' failed to even qualify for the prestigious event at the Winter Gardens.
After winning the Premier League Darts in 2020, Durrant's career went downhill fast. The three-time Lakeside champion is now in danger of losing his Tour Card after this season.
Very close to the World Matchplay title was Mensur Suljovic in 2018, but he eventually lost to Gary Anderson 21-19 in a thriller.
This year, partly due to a brief absence from the Pro Tour, the Austrian failed to qualify for the World Matchplay for the first time since 2014. In 2021, 'The Gentle' was also absent in Blackpool, but then he had qualified. However, Suljovic withdrew at the last minute.
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Looking at the Order of Merit, Mervyn King being in 21st spot is the highest ranked absentee at this tournament. It is only the second time since 2006 that 'The King' is absent in Blackpool.
Although King has shown some great results in TV tournaments tournaments, including a quarter-final at the last World Darts Championship, he has had a disappointing season on the Pro Tour.
Ian White will also not be playing at the Winter Gardens this year. 'The Diamond' has been a regular at this tournament in recent years, as he has qualified every year from 2012 to 2021.
In terms of ranking, White was perhaps the biggest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had a very successful 2019, but could not defend these results because tournaments were cancelled. White slipped down the Order of Merit, and especially the Pro Tour rankings. He has not yet managed to find his way up again now that the circuit is back in full swing.
For the second year running, Simon Whitlock is absent from the World Matchplay. In 2020 he surprisingly won against Michael van Gerwen at this tournament, before eventually being eliminated in the quarter-finals.
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Last month Whitlock pulled off a shock with compatriot Damon Heta winning for Australia at the World Cup of Darts. Heta is the only Australian competing in Blackpool this year.
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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
- 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