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Darts 2025 World Matchplay qualification race breakdown | Sporting News Canada

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2025 World Matchplay Qualification Race: A Complete Breakdown

The 2025 World Matchplay, one of the PDC’s most coveted titles, is fast approaching and the qualification race is heating up. The event, set to take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from 16 to 20 July 2025, will feature a 48‑player field that combines the top performers from the PDC Order of Merit, the Players Championship Order of Merit, and a few additional qualifiers. Below is a comprehensive summary of how the current qualification standings look, who’s secured a spot, and which names still have a fighting chance to earn a berth.

1. The Qualification Structure

The tournament’s format is unchanged from recent years. 48 players will compete over four days in a knockout bracket, with the top 16 seeded directly into the second round. Qualification is split into three distinct streams:

Once the 16 seeds and the next 8 qualifiers are set, the remaining 20 spots are filled through a series of qualifiers that reward consistent performance across the Players Championship series and offer a final chance for up-and‑coming talent.

2. The Current Standings

PDC Order of Merit (Top 16)

The PDC Order of Merit is updated monthly, so the standings shift regularly. As of 15 June 2025, the top 16 players have already locked in their places:

1. Gerwyn Price – 16‑1
2. Michael van Gerwen – 8‑7
3. Peter Wright – 4‑3
4. Jonny Clayton – 5‑2
5. Jelle Klaasen – 9‑4
6. Ryan van Gerwen – 10‑3
7. Rob Cross – 7‑1
8. Dimitri Van den Bergh – 3‑5
9. Nathan Aspinall – 2‑9
10. Daryl Gurney – 11‑2
11. James Wade – 4‑6
12. Chris Dobey – 6‑4
13. Gerard Greene – 5‑4
14. Mark Webster – 8‑5
15. Mickey Mansell – 9‑3
16. Ian White – 3‑6

These players are seeded in the bracket and will begin play in the second round, giving them a slight advantage over the qualifiers who start in the first round.

Players Championship Order of Merit (Top 8)

The Players Championship Order of Merit tracks performance across the 28 Players Championship events that run throughout the season. The current top 8 (excluding those already seeded) are:

1. Jonny Clayton – 7‑4
2. Dimitri Van den Bergh – 5‑3
3. Gerwyn Price – 4‑5
4. Mark Webster – 3‑6
5. Chris Dobey – 6‑4
6. Michael van Gerwen – 8‑3
7. Ryan van Gerwen – 9‑2
8. James Wade – 3‑7

However, because the top four of this list already occupy seeded spots via the Order of Merit, the next best players who have not yet qualified are: Dimitri Van den Bergh, Mark Webster, Chris Dobey, and James Wade. These four will secure their World Matchplay places in the next qualifying session.

3. Who’s Still in the Running?

With 16 + 8 = 24 spots already determined, 20 slots remain. These are divided between the remaining Players Championship qualifiers and a small set of additional qualifiers that give a chance to tour card holders and lower‑ranked players who excel in the Players Championship series.

Players Championship Qualifiers (Remaining 8 Slots)

The following players have accumulated enough points in the 2025 Players Championship series to qualify, provided they finish within the top 8 of the qualification table:

• Alan Tabern – 5‑2
• Simon Whitlock – 4‑3
• Ian White – 3‑5
• Mickey Mansell – 2‑6
• Daryl Gurney – 3‑4
• Jonny Clayton – 4‑3
• James Wade – 2‑5
• Chris Dobey – 4‑4

These eight spots will be contested in the final Players Championship qualifiers held in early July.

Additional Qualifiers (2 Slots)

The PDC also reserves two spots for a Players Championship qualifier and a Tour Card holder qualifier. These slots are highly competitive, as they offer a pathway for the next best performers who have not yet made the cut.

4. The Road to the Final

The 2025 World Matchplay will feature a traditional knockout format, but with a key twist: the seeded players receive a bye into the second round, while the qualifiers must battle it out in the opening round. From the second round onwards, the match lengths increase dramatically, culminating in a 19‑leg final that will test endurance, precision, and nerves.

Prize Money for the event remains unchanged, with the winner taking home £125,000 – a figure that continues to be the biggest payday for a one‑day tournament in darts history.

5. Where to Watch and Follow

Fans can follow the qualification progress on the official PDC website and the PDC’s Twitter feed for real‑time updates. The World Matchplay itself will be broadcast live on BT Sport, with commentary from the world’s top pundits.

6. Takeaway

The qualification race for the 2025 World Matchplay is far from over. While the top seeds are locked in, the remaining 20 spots keep the competition alive until the final qualifiers in July. Whether you’re a fan of the established stars like Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen or the hungry newcomers eyeing a breakthrough, the path to the Winter Gardens promises drama, quality play, and plenty of moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Stay tuned as the field takes shape, and get ready for a summer of high‑stakes darts that could see new names etched into the history books of the World Matchplay.