World Matchplay 2025 Qualifying Update | Time running out for Michael Smith to secure Winter Gardens return
PDC
The road to Blackpool is entering its final stretch as players battle to secure their places at the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay, which takes place from July 19 to 27 at the iconic Winter Gardens.
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Reigning champion Luke Humphries headlines the field and will return as the number one seed, aiming to defend the title he claimed with an 18-15 victory over Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final. Teenage sensation Luke Littler, fresh off his breakthrough season, is poised to be seeded second after debuting at the event in 2024.
Van Gerwen, a three-time Matchplay champion, will be the third seed and is on course to meet Littler only in the semi-finals. Other leading contenders in the seeded bracket include Nathan Aspinall — who lifted the title in 2023 — as well as Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Jonny Clayton, James Wade and Gary Anderson.
The tournament’s 32-player field is split evenly between the top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit, who qualify as seeds, and the top 16 players from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Qualification for the Pro Tour spots remains wide open, with several big names still fighting to secure their places.
Martin Schindler currently leads the Pro Tour race, with Cameron Menzies, Wessel Nijman and Mike de Decker all on course to make their World Matchplay debuts. Former world champion Michael Smith faces an uphill battle to qualify, sitting just outside the provisional cut-off and trailing Ricardo Pietreczko by £3,000 in the race for the final spot.
Several regulars, including Krzysztof Ratajski, Brendan Dolan and Dimitri Van den Bergh, also risk missing out. Van den Bergh, a former Matchplay semi-finalist, is currently on a competitive break and would need an extraordinary run to book his place.
A strong Dutch contingent is expected again this year, with Van Gerwen, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman all well-positioned to feature. Should Jermaine Wattimena and Raymond van Barneveld hold onto their qualifying spots, a record six Dutch players could line up in Blackpool.
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With three European Tour events and seven Players Championship tournaments still to play before the July 13 cut-off, there is plenty still to be decided in the race to the Winter Gardens.
Qualifying Race World Matchplay 2025
PDC Order of Merit (top-16 qualifies)
Rank - Name - Prize money
1 Luke Humphries 1835.25
2 Luke Littler 1300.5
3 Michael van Gerwen 734.75
4 Stephen Bunting 569
5 Jonny Clayton 515.25
6 Rob Cross 501.5
7 Chris Dobey 501.5
8 Nathan Aspinall 490
9 James Wade 487.75
10 Damon Heta 475.75
11 Gerwyn Price 473
12 Gary Anderson 457.5
13 Dave Chisnall 456.5
14 Peter Wright 439
15 Josh Rock 428.75
16 Danny Noppert 422.25
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17 Ross Smith 418.75
18 Martin Schindler 402.25
19 Ryan Searle 395.25
20 Mike De Decker 376
21 Dimitri Van den Bergh 374.25
22 Michael Smith 372
PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit (top-16 qualifies)
Rank - Name - Prize money
1 Martin Schindler 150
2 Cameron Menzies 117.25
3 Gian van Veen 112.5
4 Ryan Searle 108
5 Ross Smith 106
6 Wessel Nijman 100.5
7 Mike De Decker 98.5
8 Dirk van Duijvenbode 78.5
9 Andrew Gilding 72.5
10 Joe Cullen 69.75
11 Daryl Gurney 66
12 Luke Woodhouse 65
13 Jermaine Wattimena 65
14 Raymond van Barneveld 62.5
15 Ryan Joyce 61.75
16 Ricardo Pietreczko 59
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17 Michael Smith 56
18 Ritchie Edhouse 54.5
19 Martin Lukeman 54.25
20 Niels Zonneveld 53
21 Krzysztof Ratajski 47.5
22 Kevin Doets 46.25
23 William O'Connor 45.25
24 Callan Rydz 42
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