Recently crowned European Champion, Peter Wright has joined the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Jonny Clayton in taking an early exit at Players Championship 29 in Barnsley.
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'Snakebite' was unable to overcome Jamie Hughes in the opening round, going down 6-4. For Wright, this could be a costly disappointment as his hopes of qualifying for the Players Championship Finals now hang in the balance and the two-time World Champion will require a big day's performance at tomorrow's final Pro Tour event of the season.
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Wright wasn't the only big name to be shocked either. Michael van Gerwen suffered a defeat to Lee Evans in his first round tie, 6-4. Gary Anderson has also departed early, going down 6-2 to one of the revelations of recent events, Radek Szaganski, whilst Jonny Clayton has also a disappointing defeat, falling to Madars Razma 6-2.
Meanwhile the likes of Gerwyn Price, Dave Chisnall, Danny Noppert, Michael Smith, Josh Rock, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Andrew Gilding, Chris Dobey, Gian van Veen, Stephen Bunting, James Wade and more all secured safe passage.
Players Championship 29
Last 128
Dave Chisnall 6 | 1 Krzysztof Kciuk
Simon Whitlock 6 | 4 Owen Roelofs
Callan Rydz 6 | 5 Brian Raman
Tony Martinez 6 | 4 Devon Petersen
Jurjen van der Velde 6 | 5 Joe Cullen
Connor Scutt 6 | 2 Jelle Klaasen
Jamie Hughes 6 | 4 Peter Wright
Alan Soutar 6 | 3 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Danny Noppert 6 | 4 Scott Williams
Ian White 6 | 3 Adam Smith-Neale
Mike De Decker 6 | 3 Keane Barry
Maik Kuivenhoven 6 | 2 Steve Lennon
Michael Smith 6 | 4 Ross Montgomery
Josh Payne 6 | 3 Mervyn King
Gabriel Clemens 6 | 1 Arron Monk
Nathan Rafferty 6 | 4 Graham Usher
Josh Rock 6 | 1 Jacques Labre
Darius Labanauskas 6 | 0 Vladimir Andersen
Raymond van Barneveld 6 | 2 George Killington
Ricky Evans 6 | 3 Nick Kenny
Ryan Searle 6 | 2 Martin Lukeman
William O'Connor 6 | 0 Ted Evetts
Andrew Gilding 6 | 4 Martijn Kleermaker
Scott Waites 6 | 2 Bradley Brooks
Rob Cross 6 | 1 Jeff Smith
Owen Bates 6 | 3 Chris Landman
Brendan Dolan 6 | 3 Mickey Mansell
Wesley Plaisier 6 | 5 Andy Boulton
Krzysztof Ratajski 6 | 0 Nick Fullwell
Ron Meulenkamp 6 | 4 Darren Webster
Ryan Meikle 6 | 5 Daryl Gurney
Stephen Burton 6 | 5 Graham Hall
Gerwyn Price 6 | 4 Jules van Dongen
Richie Burnett 6 | 1 Berry van Peer
Chris Dobey 6 | 1 Danny Jansen
Boris Krcmar 6 | 0 Jimmy Hendriks
Ricardo Pietreczko 6 | 4 Niels Zonneveld
Damian Mol 6 | 4 Danny van Trijp
Martin Schindler 6 | 3 Christian Kist
Richard Veenstra 6 | 5 Karel Sedlacek
Madars Razma 6 | 2 Jonny Clayton
Keegan Brown 6 | 4 Vincent van der Voort
Gian van Veen 6 | 5 Jim Williams
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6 | 5 Cameron Menzies
Ross Smith 6 | 2 Mensur Suljovic
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6 | 1 Florian Hempel
Robert Owen 6 | 4 Jose De Sousa
Kevin Burness 6 | 5 Cam Crabtree
Damon Heta 6 | 4 Matt Campbell
Dylan Slevin 6 | 4 Adam Warner
Robbie Knops 6 | 5 Luke Woodhouse
Jeffrey De Zwaan 6 | 1 William Borland
Stephen Bunting 6 | 2 Jamie Clark
Daniel Klose 6 | 4 Joe Murnan
James Wade 6 | 3 Shaun Wilkinson
Luc Peters 6 | 5 James Hurrell
Lee Evans 6 | 4 Michael van Gerwen
Ritchie Edhouse 6 | 3 John O'Shea
Steve Beaton 6 | 5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6 | 3 Adam Gawlas
Radek Szaganski 6 | 2 Gary Anderson
Kim Huybrechts 6 | 1 Kevin Doets
Ryan Joyce 6 | 4 James Wilson
Jermaine Wattimena 6 | 5 Callum Goffin
Last 64
Dave Chisnall - | - Simon Whitlock
Callan Rydz - | - Tony Martinez
Jurjen van der Velde - | - Connor Scutt
Jamie Hughes - | - Alan Soutar
Danny Noppert - | - Ian White
Mike De Decker - | - Maik Kuivenhoven
Michael Smith - | - Josh Payne
Gabriel Clemens - | - Nathan Rafferty
Josh Rock - | - Darius Labanauskas
Raymond van Barneveld - | - Ricky Evans
Ryan Searle 6 | 2 William O'Connor
Andrew Gilding - | - Scott Waites
Rob Cross - | - Owen Bates
Brendan Dolan - | - Wesley Plaisier
Krzysztof Ratajski - | - Ron Meulenkamp
Ryan Meikle - | - Stephen Burton
Gerwyn Price 6 | 0 Richie Burnett
Chris Dobey - | - Boris Krcmar
Ricardo Pietreczko - | - Damian Mol
Martin Schindler - | - Richard Veenstra
Madars Razma - | - Keegan Brown
Gian van Veen - | - Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Ross Smith - | - Mario Vandenbogaerde
Robert Owen - | - Kevin Burness
Damon Heta - | - Dylan Slevin
Robbie Knops - | - Jeffrey De Zwaan
Stephen Bunting - | - Daniel Klose
James Wade - | - Luc Peters
Lee Evans - | - Ritchie Edhouse
Steve Beaton - | - Rowby-John Rodriguez
Radek Szaganski 6 | 1 Kim Huybrechts
Ryan Joyce - | - Jermaine Wattimena
Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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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