World Matchplay 2025 Qualifying Update | Time running out for Michael Smith to secure Winter Gardens return

The road to Blackpool is entering its final stretch as players battle to secure their places at the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay, which takes place from July 19 to 27 at the iconic Winter Gardens.

Reigning champion Luke Humphries headlines the field and will return as the number one seed, aiming to defend the title he claimed with an 18-15 victory over Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final. Teenage sensation Luke Littler, fresh off his breakthrough season, is poised to be seeded second after debuting at the event in 2024.

Van Gerwen, a three-time Matchplay champion, will be the third seed and is on course to meet Littler only in the semi-finals. Other leading contenders in the seeded bracket include Nathan Aspinall — who lifted the title in 2023 — as well as Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Jonny Clayton, James Wade and Gary Anderson.

The tournament’s 32-player field is split evenly between the top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit, who qualify as seeds, and the top 16 players from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Qualification for the Pro Tour spots remains wide open, with several big names still fighting to secure their places.

Martin Schindler currently leads the Pro Tour race, with Cameron Menzies, Wessel Nijman and Mike de Decker all on course to make their World Matchplay debuts. Former world champion Michael Smith faces an uphill battle to qualify, sitting just outside the provisional cut-off and trailing Ricardo Pietreczko by £3,000 in the race for the final spot.

Several regulars, including Krzysztof Ratajski, Brendan Dolan and Dimitri Van den Bergh, also risk missing out. Van den Bergh, a former Matchplay semi-finalist, is currently on a competitive break and would need an extraordinary run to book his place.

A strong Dutch contingent is expected again this year, with Van Gerwen, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman all well-positioned to feature. Should Jermaine Wattimena and Raymond van Barneveld hold onto their qualifying spots, a record six Dutch players could line up in Blackpool.

With three European Tour events and seven Players Championship tournaments still to play before the July 13 cut-off, there is plenty still to be decided in the race to the Winter Gardens.

Qualifying Race World Matchplay 2025

PDC Order of Merit (top-16 qualifies)

Rank - Name - Prize money

1 Luke Humphries 1835.25

2 Luke Littler 1300.5

3 Michael van Gerwen 734.75

4 Stephen Bunting 569

5 Jonny Clayton 515.25

6 Rob Cross 501.5

7 Chris Dobey 501.5

8 Nathan Aspinall 490

9 James Wade 487.75

10 Damon Heta 475.75

11 Gerwyn Price 473

12 Gary Anderson 457.5

13 Dave Chisnall 456.5

14 Peter Wright 439

15 Josh Rock 428.75

16 Danny Noppert 422.25

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17 Ross Smith 418.75

18 Martin Schindler 402.25

19 Ryan Searle 395.25

20 Mike De Decker 376

21 Dimitri Van den Bergh 374.25

22 Michael Smith 372

PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit (top-16 qualifies)

Rank - Name - Prize money

1 Martin Schindler 150

2 Cameron Menzies 117.25

3 Gian van Veen 112.5

4 Ryan Searle 108

5 Ross Smith 106

6 Wessel Nijman 100.5

7 Mike De Decker 98.5

8 Dirk van Duijvenbode 78.5

9 Andrew Gilding 72.5

10 Joe Cullen 69.75

11 Daryl Gurney 66

12 Luke Woodhouse 65

13 Jermaine Wattimena 65

14 Raymond van Barneveld 62.5

15 Ryan Joyce 61.75

16 Ricardo Pietreczko 59

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17 Michael Smith 56

18 Ritchie Edhouse 54.5

19 Martin Lukeman 54.25

20 Niels Zonneveld 53

21 Krzysztof Ratajski 47.5

22 Kevin Doets 46.25

23 William O'Connor 45.25

24 Callan Rydz 42

Source: Dartsrankings.com