The World Matchplay will begin on July 15 in Blackpool. The full field of participants is already known, including a number of debutants. However, there will also be some established names missing from the Winter Gardens, which will have major implications for their position in the world rankings.
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The highest ranked player on the world rankings the failed to qualify for the World Matchplay is Callan Rydz. The 25-year-old Englishman made his debut at the 2021 World Matchplay and immediately made it to the quarterfinals then, with victories over Glen Durrant and Rob Cross. Last year he also qualified for the World Matchplay, but lost immediately in the first round to Dimitri van den Bergh.
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Rydz is currently 26th in the world rankings, but cannot defend his quarterfinal from two years ago. As a result, he drops to spot 29, with the risk of even falling out of the top 32 later in the year.
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However, there are also positive signs for the man from Newcastle, given that he is probably already assured of participating in the World Championship and is also still in the race for the World Grand Prix.
Another player teetering on the edge of the top 32 is Mervyn King. From 2006 to 2019, he participated in all editions of the World Matchplay. In 2021, he returned to Blackpool, but was immediately eliminated by Nathan Aspinall.
The King failed to qualify for the World Matchplay in 2022 and will also be missing from The Winter Gardens this year. This means he will drop from spot 32 to spot 36 in the world rankings. This could mean we won't see King at the World Championship either, given his Pro-Tour season has been very mediocre so far.
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Another darts veteran who failed to qualify this year is Vincent van der Voort. In the period from 2008 to 2021, he only missed the World Matchplay twice.
Unfortunately, the 47-year-old Dutchman's career is not going so well now and he has already fallen outside the top 32 and is not yet sure of a spot at the World Championship. Van der Voort has been suffering from motivation problems for some time and recently indicated that he will decide in the coming months whether or not to continue playing on the PDC Tour.
Devon Petersen participated in the 2021 World Matchplay edition, in which he lost to Dimitri van den Bergh in the first round. Since then, things have gone downhill for the South African, who is now outside the top 64, which could mean losing his Tour Card after this season.
Two other players at risk of losing their Tour Card at the end of the year are Ian White and Jermaine Wattimena. Both players, since their last Matchplay appearances in 2021, have dropped to the top 40. However, both, especially White, are showing good things on the Pro Tour this year and could just keep their Tour Card with World Championship participation.
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
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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
