Gary Anderson tops notable list of European Tour withdrawals, with Michael van Gerwen also very high

The European Tour remains one of the most popular circuits within the PDC, yet at the same time the number of withdrawals from top players is growing strikingly fast.

Since the start of 2024, Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price in particular have emerged as the most notable absentees from the European tournaments. The figures show that more and more players are consciously making choices in an overcrowded darts calendar.

Gary Anderson tops the list with no fewer than seventeen withdrawals since 2024. The Scot has long been known for taking a more selective approach to his playing schedule, especially when it comes to travel and intensive weekends on the European Tour.

Over the past few years, Anderson has repeatedly stated that he values the balance between competition and rest more than before. Although his class remains beyond doubt, the two-time world champion is increasingly choosing to skip certain events.

Gerwyn Price follows with ten withdrawals since 2024 and is therefore the most eye-catching name of the current season. In 2026 alone, the Welshman has already pulled out of a European Tour event four times. In several cases, fatigue, physical discomfort, or illness played a role. Price traditionally combines a busy schedule with the Premier League Darts, televised tournaments, and international commitments, making it increasingly difficult to step up to the oche fully fit every weekend.

Michael van Gerwen also ranks strikingly high on the list with nine withdrawals since 2024. That is noteworthy for a player long known as one of the most consistent entrants on the European Tour. The Dutchman remains a fixture at the major televised tournaments, but he too seems to be managing his schedule more carefully.

Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall follow with eight withdrawals each. With Humphries, it is particularly notable that despite his status among the absolute elite, he has already missed three European Tour events in 2026. The Englishman has played an exceptionally heavy schedule for several seasons, which is clearly starting to take its toll. Aspinall, meanwhile, has been dealing with physical issues and fatigue complaints for some time, making an adjusted playing schedule almost a necessity for him.

The figures mainly show how grueling the current darts calendar has become. With weekly Premier League commitments, Players Championships, European Tours, and televised tournaments, it is becoming increasingly difficult for top players to play every event. As a result, workload management seems to be gaining importance in the darts world as well.

It is also striking that players nowadays even pull out of tournaments with higher prize money than ever before. That underlines how important physical freshness and mental rest have become at the very top of modern darts.