Players Championship Order of Merit Update after PC 30: Absent Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen slip further, Nathan Aspinall also drops out of qualifying places

The 30th Players Championship of the year was finished yesterday in Leicester. The final victory went to Wessel Nijman, who was too strong for Damon Heta in the final winning 8-3. For Nijman it is the second PDC ranking title of his career.

Even after thirty tournaments, the Players Championship Order of Merit is still led by Gerwyn Price. 'The Iceman' was not present in Leicester yesterday, but still has a 1,500 pound lead over number two Gian van Veen. Ross Smith - winner of the 29th tournament the day before yesterday - follows just behind in third place.

Nijman moved up to sixth place thanks to his final victory at Players Championship 30, he already earned £71000 at the Players Championship this year.

Michael van Gerwen was a last-minute absentee for Players Championship 30 yesterday, doing poor business toward qualifying for the Players Championship Finals. 'MIghty Mike' is only in 92nd place with four tournaments to go. He is 7500 pounds behind the current number 64, Irishman Keane Barry. Van Gerwen has won the Players Championship Finals seven times in the past, but thus has a lot of work ahead of him in the coming tournaments to qualify for this year's edition.

Luke Littler - absent from the Players Championship yesterday for the third day in a row - is also currently outside the top 64. 'The Nuke - winner of three majors already this year - does have only a thousand pounds behind a safe place at a provisional 70th place.

Like Littler and Van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall is currently outside the qualifying spots. 'The Asp' went down 6-5 against Scott Waites in the second round yesterday and is currently only 71 on the Players Championship Order of Merit.

For Luke Humphries, on the other hand, things seem to be looking up. The 30-year-old was still outside the top 64 before the start of this trilogy, but has since moved up to 56th place.

He sits alongside Peter Wright in teetering on the edge but not in any immediate danger as of right now compared to the other big names albeit protection will be removed in regards to him playing later in the event and if all do qualify, they will have to play from the very start of the tournament.

The Players Championship continues on Oct. 14 and 15 in Wigan. The final two tournaments are then scheduled for October 29 and 30.