Players Championship 25 & 26 Preview

 

Germany Hosts A Rare Opportunity As Many Of The Biggest Names Sit Out

The PDC ProTour heads to Germany this week for Players Championships 25 and 26, but these two floor events have a very different feel to normal.

An extraordinary 20 Tour Card holders are absent, including world champion Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen's recent rivals Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, Rob Cross, Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, James Wade, Gary Anderson and many more.

That creates one of the most open Players Championship events of the season.

With so many established stars missing, there is a huge opportunity for the next generation of players, ProTour regulars and in-form outsiders to make a deep run and collect valuable ranking money.

A Huge Opportunity

Normally a Players Championship features virtually every elite player on the tour.

This week is different.

With nearly a quarter of the leading Tour Card holders absent, players who may usually expect to meet a top-eight seed in the later rounds suddenly find the draw looking considerably kinder.

History shows these are often the events where careers can change. One title or one semi-final can dramatically improve a player's ranking, confidence and qualification prospects heading towards the televised majors.

Players To Watch

Wessel Nijman

Nijman arrives as one of the form players on the circuit.

His recent victory in the PDC Slovak event came with a superb 99.45 tournament average, including an outstanding 103.80 average in an 8-3 victory over Rob Cross. He has also already won a Players Championship this season and remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the field.

Chris Dobey

Dobey may start as one of the favourites.

He reached the quarter-finals of Players Championship 24 and has produced several 100+ averages during recent ProTour events. His scoring remains among the very best on tour and the absence of several elite names strengthens his chances further.

Michael van Gerwen

Van Gerwen remains capable of winning any floor event despite a mixed few months.

His Players Championship 15 victory earlier this season came with a tournament average approaching 102, while he also recorded a stunning 122.34 average in one of his recent matches. If he finds his rhythm early, few players will want to face him.

Gabriel Clemens

Few players arrive with more confidence.

The German delighted home supporters by winning Players Championship 24, defeating Brendan Dolan and Luke Woodhouse during another excellent week. Returning to Germany immediately afterwards could make him one of the most dangerous players in the draw.

Kevin Doets

The Dutchman continues to threaten a major breakthrough.

He has already produced 100+ averages this season and has shown he can beat established names on the ProTour. Consistency remains the key, but his ceiling is extremely high.

Andrew Gilding

"Goldfinger" continues to quietly collect excellent results.

Recent victories over Michael van Gerwen and Luke Woodhouse demonstrate the level he is capable of producing, while his experience could prove invaluable in an unpredictable field.

Dark Horses

Several players could spring a surprise this week.

• Sebastian Bialecki continues to impress after Development Tour success.
• Cristo Reyes recently reached a Players Championship final.
• Owen Bates arrives full of confidence after reaching the UKDA National Finals final.
• Daniel Ayres has produced several deep runs across ADC and PDC events.
• Tommy Morris has already shown he can beat established professionals.
• Cam Crabtree continues to develop into one of the most exciting young players outside the elite.

Who Could Benefit Most?

With so many elite players missing, these events offer a genuine chance for someone to take the next step.

Don't be surprised if a player outside the world's top 32 reaches the final—or even lifts the trophy.

The ProTour has a habit of creating new stars, and Players Championships 25 and 26 could easily produce another breakthrough winner.

My Prediction

If the draw opens up as expected, I expect Wessel Nijman, Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen to be among the leading contenders.

However, if I had to pick one player to continue his momentum, Gabriel Clemens looks an excellent bet after lifting the Players Championship 24 title and now returning to home soil full of confidence.

Floor vs Stage: Do Some Players Perform Better Under the Lights? A Q4QS Analysis of the 2026 PDC Season

 

One of the oldest debates in professional darts is whether certain players are better suited to the Players Championship circuit or the sport's biggest televised stages.

Some players seem to produce their very best performances in front of packed arenas and television cameras, while others quietly build exceptional records on the ProTour week after week.

But is there actually any evidence to support that idea?

To find out, I compared my 2026 Q4QS Knockout Pedigree Rankings from two very different environments:

• Players Championship events

• Televised ranking tournaments

Rather than comparing averages or prize money, these rankings measure knockout success during the 2026 season. I then compared where every player ranked in each list to see who climbed the rankings under the lights and who built their strongest record on the Players Championship circuit.

Before diving into the numbers, there are two important points to make.

Firstly, these are Q4QS Rankings, not the official PDC Order of Merit.

Secondly, this comparison only covers the 2026 season. Players with insufficient participation have been excluded. Most notably, Luke Littler does not feature, having not competed in a Players Championship event during 2026. Without a Players Championship ranking, it simply isn't possible to make a fair comparison.

Biggest Movers Towards the Televised Rankings

The following players achieved a significantly higher Q4QS Televised Ranking than their Q4QS Players Championship Ranking.

Player	Q4QS Players Championship Rank	Q4QS Televised Rank	Movement
Josh Rock	62	6	▲ 56
Ryan Joyce	70	17	▲ 53
Gian van Veen	50	7	▲ 43
Mike De Decker	71	27	▲ 44
Gerwyn Price	43	2	▲ 41
Niels Zonneveld	55	15	▲ 40
Nathan Aspinall	47	9	▲ 38

Josh Rock heads the list, climbing an incredible 56 places between the two rankings. Ryan Joyce also makes a huge leap, while Gian van Veen continues to strengthen his reputation whenever the biggest tournaments come around.

Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall are perhaps less surprising. Both have built reputations over many years as players capable of producing some of their very best darts on the sport's biggest stages.

Biggest Movers Towards the Players Championship Rankings

These players recorded considerably stronger Q4QS Players Championship Rankings than their televised rankings.

Player	Q4QS Players Championship Rank	Q4QS Televised Rank	Movement
Andrew Gilding	5	29	▼ 24
Chris Dobey	2	20	▼ 18
Gary Anderson	30	40	▼ 10
Kevin Doets	3	12	▼ 9
Wessel Nijman	1	8	▼ 7
Luke Woodhouse	4	11	▼ 7
James Wade	9	13	▼ 4

Wessel Nijman's place at the top of the Players Championship rankings underlines just how impressive his ProTour campaign has been.

Chris Dobey, Kevin Doets and Luke Woodhouse have also put together exceptional Players Championship seasons, while Andrew Gilding's consistency on the floor has been rewarded with a remarkably high Q4QS ranking.

These results shouldn't be viewed as a weakness in televised tournaments. Instead, they demonstrate just how consistently these players have performed throughout the demanding Players Championship schedule.

Consistency Across Both Rankings

Some players don't show a dramatic difference between the two rankings.

Luke Humphries is a good example. While he ranks slightly higher in the televised list, he remains among the elite in both environments.

The same can be said for Michael van Gerwen, whose rankings remain consistently high regardless of whether he is playing on the Players Championship circuit or under the television cameras.

Those players may simply possess an ability to adapt to every environment they encounter.

Why Do The Rankings Differ?

There is probably no single explanation.

One obvious factor is match format.

Players Championship matches are generally played over shorter distances, meaning there is less time to recover from a slow start. Most televised ranking tournaments become progressively longer as the event develops, rewarding players capable of maintaining a high level over an extended contest.

The seeding system may also influence results.

Players Championship events are seeded using the Players Championship Order of Merit, whereas televised ranking tournaments are generally seeded using the main PDC Order of Merit. That can produce very different draws, particularly in the early rounds.

Participation is another important consideration.

Several leading players have reduced their Players Championship schedules during 2026, while others have entered almost every event. That inevitably affects the opportunities available to build a strong knockout pedigree.

Finally, there is the atmosphere itself.

Some players appear to relish performing in front of thousands of spectators, while others quietly produce outstanding results on the ProTour week after week.

Whether that's down to mentality, experience, preparation, playing style or something else entirely is impossible to measure—but it's certainly an intriguing discussion.

Final Thoughts

This analysis isn't designed to say that one player is better than another.

Instead, it highlights where players have built their strongest knockout records during the 2026 season.

Some have climbed the rankings when the television cameras arrive.

Others have quietly dominated the Players Championship circuit.

And a select few continue to perform at an exceptionally high level regardless of where they play.

As with any statistical comparison, there are caveats, but the trends are fascinating—and they raise an interesting question.

What do you think explains the differences? Is it the atmosphere, the format, the draw, the scheduling... or simply the mark of players who adapt to every challenge?

2026 Betfred World Matchplay Preview 18th - 26th July 2026

 

Can anyone stop Luke Humphries and Luke Littler?

The Betfred World Matchplay has always occupied a special place on the darts calendar. Played at Blackpool's iconic Winter Gardens, it's the second biggest ranking title of the year for many players, and one that has produced some of the sport's most memorable moments.

This year's field looks as competitive as ever. The established stars remain at the top of the market, but recent Players Championship events and European Tour tournaments have shown that the chasing pack are more than capable of producing major upsets.

Using my recent database and player form, here's how I see the tournament unfolding.

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The Men to Beat

Luke Humphries

If there is one player arriving in Blackpool with the strongest momentum, it is Luke Humphries.

His recent victory at the US Darts Masters, combined with an outstanding Players Championship title where he averaged over 104, demonstrates exactly why he sits at the top of my rankings. Winning eight of his last ten matches, Cool Hand Luke looks every bit the player to beat.

His opening match against Cameron Menzies is anything but straightforward, but if Humphries negotiates that hurdle he could be difficult to stop.

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Luke Littler

There is almost nothing left to say about Luke Littler that hasn't already been said.

Nine victories from his last ten matches, another televised title and a remarkable scoring power continue to make him one of the most feared players in the sport.

The draw hasn't been especially kind however. Niko Springer is one of the most dangerous floaters in the field and represents a genuine opening-round test before Littler's route potentially becomes even tougher.

If Littler settles quickly, he remains one of the favourites for the Phil Taylor Trophy.

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Players Arriving in Form

Recent months have seen several players quietly build excellent runs of form.

Cameron Menzies arrives after winning a Players Championship title and boasts a 9-1 record over his last ten matches. His reward is arguably the toughest draw possible against Luke Humphries.

Luke Woodhouse has enjoyed perhaps the best spell of his career, winning the Baltic Sea Open before reaching another Players Championship final.

Wessel Nijman continues to develop into one of the most dangerous young talents on tour, while Chris Dobey has consistently reached the latter stages of floor events.

Ross Smith, Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen have all lifted ranking titles during the season and know exactly what it takes to win tournaments of this calibre.

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First Round Matches to Watch

Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies

Possibly the toughest first-round tie in the draw.

Humphries is the deserved favourite, but Menzies has been outstanding over recent weeks and could easily make life uncomfortable.

Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding

Experience against experience.

Neither player has quite reached their absolute best consistently this year, but both remain capable of producing spectacular darts when the television cameras arrive.

Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski

One of the most intriguing contests.

Van Veen continues to improve every month, while Ratajski's consistency always makes him difficult to beat.

Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler

Price possesses the higher ceiling, but Schindler is exactly the type of dangerous opponent capable of punishing any slow start.

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Six To Follow

⭐ Luke Humphries

The current benchmark. Recent victories and outstanding averages make him the player everyone wants to avoid.

⭐ Luke Littler

Simply impossible to ignore. Another major title would surprise nobody.

⭐ Wessel Nijman

His development continues at an incredible pace and he looks increasingly comfortable on the biggest stages.

⭐ Luke Woodhouse

Excellent recent form could finally translate into a deep televised run.

⭐ Chris Dobey

Scoring power has never been in doubt. If his finishing clicks, he becomes extremely dangerous.

⭐ Cameron Menzies

Perhaps the form player outside the favourites. If he upsets Humphries, his confidence could carry him a long way.

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Dark Horses

Gian van Veen

Already proving he belongs amongst the elite.

Kevin Doets

Quietly producing excellent floor performances and capable of upsetting seeded opponents.

Ryan Searle

Heavy Metal possesses the scoring to beat anybody over longer formats.

Predictions?

The obvious names dominate the conversation, but major championships are rarely straightforward.

Luke Humphries enters as my slight favourite after his recent performances, while Luke Littler remains the player with perhaps the highest ceiling in world darts.

Behind them, the likes of Dobey, Cross, Price, Aspinall and van Gerwen all possess the quality to lift the trophy if they can produce their best darts over the week.

Don't discount one or two surprise names either. Every year Blackpool creates new stories, and 2026 feels no different.