DRAW PDC Players Championship 29 | Jonny Clayton vs Michael Smith in Round 1 as Van Gerwen, Aspinall & Humphries fight for Minehead qualification

The draw for Players Championship 29, played on 1 October 2025, has thrown up another batch of intriguing contests, with big names clashing early and plenty of scope for upsets as the season edges towards its conclusion.

One of the standout ties sees Jonny Clayton take on Michael Smith. Both men are major champions, both seasoned winners on the floor, and neither would have wanted such a heavyweight opponent in round one. For Smith in particular, consistency has been a talking point this year, while Clayton’s steady floor game could make this a thriller.

Michael van Gerwen is once again in the spotlight, facing Matthew Dennant. MvG is in desperate need of a deep run for Minehead qualification, as are Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall, who kick off their campaigns against Justin Hood and Darius Labanauskas respectively.

Another high-profile clash features Dimitri Van den Bergh against Gabriel Clemens. Van den Bergh, a former World Matchplay champion, has really struggled on the floor this year, while Clemens, himself is yet to hit his best form. Elsewhere, Dave Chisnall v Matt Campbell is a meeting of heavy scoring against Canadian resilience. Ryan Searle v Jelle Klaasen offers a fascinating battle of power scoring and raw pace, while Rob Cross v Sebastian Bialecki pits a former world champion against one of the most exciting emerging talents.

Plenty of younger names will be out to make their mark. Josh Rock v Tavis Dudeney promises fireworks, while Niko Springer v Mensur Suljovic combines youthful firepower with seasoned guile. Rising star Gian van Veen faces Benjamin Reus.

The schedule also has a nostalgic edge with Raymond van Barneveld meeting Niels Zonneveld, a battle between one of the sport’s greatest icons and a compatriot looking to forge his own path. James Wade v Keane Barry offers another intriguing contrast of experience versus youth, while Danny Noppert v Rhys Griffin is also one to watch out for.

DRAW PDC Players Championship 29