The race to make the Players Championship Finals reaches its conclusion on Wednesday and Thursday, with the final Pro Tour events due to take place in Leicester.
With plenty on the line in the East Midlands, there have been a lot fewer withdrawals this time around.
Luke Littler’s aims for Minehead diminished with his defeat at the World Series of Darts Finals, ending his clean sweep hopes so ‘The Nuke’ will not defend his title at Butlins, and his withdrawal for PC31 and 32 has been confirmed.
A surprising omission for the duo of events at Mattioli Arena is Nathan Aspinall, who sits just over £5,000 outside the top 64, but ‘The Asp’ has opted to focus on the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts instead, and will not be in the running.
Gian van Veen also won’t be in Leicester, but the Dutchman has all but confirmed his place at the Finals.
The other withdrawals up to press are Kai Gotthardt, Yorick Hofkens, Pascal Rupprecht, Maximilian Czerwinski, Pero Ljubić and Matthias Ehlers
Gary Anderson is £2,000 outside the all-important top 64, and Josh Rock is £5,750 adrift in 80th spot, and both have entered this weeks’ events to try and book a last-gasp place.
Raymond van Barneveld is a further place behind, and Peter Wright sits in 86th place, some £8,000 in arrears, with both struggling to make it to the Somerset coast at the end of November. Ryan Joyce has had a nightmare season on the floor, and ‘Relentless’ is £1,250 behind Wright in the pecking order.
Players Championship 33 takes place from 1pm UK time on Wednesday, and you can watch live on pdc.tv
