Race to 2024 World Matchplay: James Wade and Dirk van Duijvenbode lurk for Kevin Doets’ final spot

Two Players Championship tournaments are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Milton Keynes. These tournaments are the last in the qualifying race for the World Matchplay.

The field of participants for the major tournament in Blackpool is already largely in place. Normally thirty players are already assured of participation. The last two starting spots are currently held by Andrew Gilding and Kevin Doets, and in particular the margin on James Wade is small.

'The Machine' consistently competed in the World Matchplay from 2006 through 2023, but is in danger of missing out on participation this year. Wade is currently one spot outside the qualifying spots, although his deficit to Doets is only 500 pounds. Gilding has a 1,750-pound lead over Wade.

Dirk van Duijvenbode may also still hope to take part in the World Matchplay. 'Aubergenius' is 3,500 pounds behind Doets, and so actually needs a semi-final place in Milton Keynes to still play his way into the field of participants.

The 31st edition of the World Matchplay will take place from July 13 to 21. Nathan Aspinall is the defending champion in Blackpool. 'The Asp' won 18-6 over Jonny Clayton in last year's final.

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Virtual field of participants World Matchplay 2024

PDC Order of Merit (top-16 qualifies)

Rank - Name - Prize money (in units of £1,000)

1 Luke Humphries 1458.25

2 Michael van Gerwen 1064.5

3 Michael Smith 1026.75

4 Gerwyn Price 615.75

5 Nathan Aspinall 590.5

6 Rob Cross 589.25

7 Dave Chisnall 516

8 Dimitri Van den Bergh 492.75

9 Peter Wright 486

10 Jonny Clayton 479

11 Damon Heta 469.75

12 Danny Noppert 442.5

13 Ross Smith 423.25

14 Chris Dobey 419.5

15 Joe Cullen 411.5

16 Stephen Bunting 402.25

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17 Dirk van Duijvenbode 387.75

PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit (top-16 qualifies)

Rank - Name - Prize money (in units of £1,000)

1 Gary Anderson 115

2 Josh Rock 106.75

3 Ryan Searle 103

4 Martin Schindler 91.75

5 Gian van Veen 88.5

6 Luke Littler 86

7 Ricardo Pietreczko 84

8 Daryl Gurney 81.5

9 Ryan Joyce 72

10 Brendan Dolan 63.25

11 Raymond van Barneveld 62.75

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13 Krzysztof Ratajski 59.5

14 Luke Woodhouse 57.5

15 Andrew Gilding 52.25

16 Kevin Doets 51

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17 James Wade 50.5

18 Dirk van Duijvenbode 47.5

19 Callan Rydz 47.5

20 Mike De Decker 46.25

21 Jermaine Wattimena 40.75

22 Cameron Menzies 40.75

23 Gabriel Clemens 39.5

24 Richard Veenstra 38.5

25 Alan Soutar 36.5

26 Scott Williams 36

27 Madars Razma 35

28 Jose de Sousa 34.5

29 Martin Lukeman 33

30 Niels Zonneveld 32

31 Ian White 30.5

32 Jim Williams 30

33 Ricky Evans 28.5

34 Daniel Klose 28.25

35 William O'Connor 28.25

36 Stephen Burton 27.75

37 Karel Sedlacek 25.25

38 Mickey Mansell 25

39 Ryan Meikle 23.5

40 Maik Kuivenhoven 23.5

41 Dylan Slevin 23

42 Lee Evans 23

43 Kim Huybrechts 22.25

44 Florian Hempel 21