Michael van Gerwen withdraws from Players Championship 27; Former world champ set to miss Finals in Minehead for first time ever

Michael van Gerwen seems to have ended his attempts to qualify for the 2025 Players Championship Finals after the three-time world champion has now officially withdrawn from the lineup of PC27 in Hildesheim, Germany this Wednesday afternoon.

Van Gerwen, who was eliminated in the first round of Players Championship 26 yesterday afternoon by a strong Callan Rydz, dropped to 100th place in the Players Championship Order of Merit as a result. With seven tournaments to go, Van Gerwen is as much as £9,000 short of a spot in the top 64, but with him now skipping PC27, there is one less chance for the Dutchman to close that gap. In fact, it is likely the gap could actually be extended by the end of today.

'Mighty Mike' has been an ever present at the Players Championship Finals, winning the title seven times over the course of his most illustrious career, most recently in 2022. That run is now in serious danger of coming to an end in 2025 however.

At Players Championship 27 meanwhile, Van Gerwen has been replaced by Christopher Wickenden from the Challenge Tour, who now has a first round tie with Danny van Trijp to look forward to.