World Matchplay Race: Big names set to miss out on Blackpool including Cross, De Decker, Van Barneveld and Wright

From July 18-26, the World Matchplay is due to take place and as ever even with the big names, debutants and returning faces, there are a glut of players who do not make it to Blackpool.

As the cut off looms in just a few months, the race to Blackpool is starting to hot up and for some currently there is a lot of work to do. The likes of Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries among others are long qualified and aren't doubts but who will be joining them and who is in danger.

Currently the leading players who are set for their debuts include Niko Springer and Niels Zonneveld in particular. Zonneveld has been one of the best players in the world during this season and has scalps over Michael van Gerwen at the European Darts Trophy as well as Luke Littler at the Belgian Darts Open.

'Triple Z' is currently sat in second place in the ProTour Order of Merit qualification alongside Wessel Nijman who is far and away by a near £100k differential the leader. Springer too after his European Tour breakout last year albeit with more freak losses including at the World Championship will look to finally deal with the pressure that comes with his higher ceiling. He is the top ranked German in terms of the ProTour ahead even of Martin Schindler who for a long time has carried the candle when it comes to German darts.

Kevin Doets similar to Zonneveld has joined a real rising group of players from the Netherlands that were previously lauded but until now have not broken out of that ceiling. 'Hawk Eye' since beating Michael Smith previously at Ally Pally has grown into his own and is now a serious contender for titles. The same can be said for Sebastian Bialecki who is really coming of age and is primed to be the next Polish star with Krzysztof Ratajski for a long time carrying the candle. Both are currently in line for World Matchplay debuts.

While Karel Sedlacek is currently teetering on the edge. He could make his debut but has Kim Huybrechts behind him who is in the unique position of being 57th in the Order of Merit so fighting for his PDC life so to speak but he is in qualification spots as such for both World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. The former has changed as of late but he is only just recently been usurped and could easily change that.

Some real top names are in danger of missing out including former champions and even players who have become part of the status quo so to speak.

Cameron Menzies and Damon Heta have long been staples of this event through the ProTour but both are having an off year and so find themselves in qualification spots but only just so they could yet be in danger.

But the big news comes from the big names who are on the slide. Dave Chisnall is just outside the qualification spots in 18th on the ProTour and not anywhere near the top 16 on the main Order of Merit.

He has reached the Quarter-Finals on five occasions however in his last three appearances he has gone out in the opening round. He is defending just £10,000 as a result but while it wouldn't affect him too much in terms of the main Order of Merit, he has not got there yet.

Rob Cross is the most surprising. A former winner, he is now outside the world's top 16 after only being part of the Premier League elite last season. He sits 24th in the ProTour race and he will have to rely on that. He is defending a Quarter-Final so could soon be a similar predicament to Wright, Van den Bergh and Michael Smith of fighting for his Tour Card even in short order next year if he doesn't find himself results. He is not guaranteed for European Tours either so has to qualify and so it is how quickly the pack of cards can fall.

Raymond van Barneveld too is outside the top 30 in the race and is £11,000 short. He barely plays European Tour so doesn't help his cause and he has featured in the last three editions. Looking very unlikely to be there this time.

Peter Wright also needs a real battle to get there sat 33rd in the Order of Merit and 45th on the ProTour. He is roughly £20,000 short of the cut off. A ProTour win even wouldn't be enough and he'd likely need some good European Tours for instance too and win more titles.

Michael Smith is also at risk. He missed it last year and also is just under £20,000 short. But perhaps given he missed it last year isn't a huge shock. One that is though is Mike de Decker. He is World Number 19 and is outside the ProTour spots too so currently won't qualify at all. A big drop not ranking wise as he missed 2024 but in terms of from World Grand Prix, Premier League contention to now not even playing in Blackpool.

Finally his Belgian compatriot Dimitri van den Bergh as expected given he might not even have a Tour Card soon is in danger. He's working hard to get form back but it is unlikely to mirror in a World Matchplay qualification.