The Players Championship double-header in Leicester, scheduled for March 30-31, is set to deliver high-stakes darts action, but with a surprising twist: several of the sport’s biggest names will be absent. World Champion Luke Littler, alongside Luke Humphries and, for one day, Gerwyn Price, are notably missing from the line-up. This unexpected development creates a golden opportunity for ambitious Challenge Tour players and rising stars to step into the spotlight and prove their mettle against a strong field that still includes titans like Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton. Expect fierce competition and potentially new heroes to emerge from the Mattioli Arena.
The Elite Who Are Sitting Out
Once again, the darts ProTour circuit sees a mix of established stars and hungry newcomers. However, the upcoming Players Championships 7 and 8 in Leicester will be particularly notable for who *isn’t* there:
- Luke Littler: The reigning World Champion and Players Championship Finals winner continues his highly selective approach to the ‘floor’ events. Despite his success, ‘The Nuke’ has consistently opted out of many ProTour events in 2026, making his absence in Leicester a continuation of this trend.
- Luke Humphries: ‘Cool Hand Luke’, another top Premier League player, has also limited his ProTour appearances this season, with his involvement primarily confined to the Wigan events where he secured silverware.
- Gerwyn Price: ‘The Iceman’ will be absent for Players Championship 7 but is confirmed to compete in Players Championship 8. His partial absence still opens a significant slot for the first day of competition.
- Other Tour Card Holders Absent: Maximilian Czerwinski, Pero Ljubic.
These high-profile withdrawals mean that the road to victory in Leicester is wide open for a host of other talented players.
A Golden Opportunity for Rising Stars
The absence of such prominent figures creates an invaluable chance for the next generation of darts talent. **Ambitious players from the Challenge Tour and PDPA Associate Members** will be called upon to fill the vacant spots, eager to seize this serendipitous moment. This has been a recurring theme throughout the early stages of the season, offering these players crucial experience and a platform to make a name for themselves against the sport’s elite.
Among the non-Tour Card holders confirmed to compete are Joe Hunt, Martijn Dragt, Jack Tweddell, Steve Lennon, and Tommy Morris (for PC7 only).
The Show Goes On: Who’s Competing
Despite the notable withdrawals, the competitive landscape remains incredibly strong. Players Championships 7 and 8, scheduled for March 30-31, will each feature 128 competitors. The field is a robust mix of PDC Tour Card holders and PDPA Associate Members, guaranteeing both depth and unpredictability across the two-day spectacle.
Fans can still look forward to seeing many of the sport’s biggest names, including:
- Michael van Gerwen: The Dutch titan and multiple World Champion.
- Jonny Clayton: The ‘Ferret’, a Premier League pace-setter.
- Gerwyn Price: Competing on the second day (PC8), currently leading the Players Championship Order of Merit.
- Wessel Nijman: The in-form Dutchman, narrowly behind Price in the Order of Merit, will be a player to watch.
- Many other top professionals like Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting, Dave Chisnall, Rob Cross, Joe Cullen, Chris Dobey, Damon Heta, Josh Rock, Michael Smith, Ross Smith, Raymond van Barneveld, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Dirk van Duijvenbode, James Wade, and Peter Wright are all set to feature.
Event Details and How to Watch
The action unfolds at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. Play commences at 13:00 BST on both March 30th and 31st. Darts fans worldwide can follow comprehensive multi-board coverage streamed live via PDCTV and various bookmaker platforms. The ProTour’s relentless cadence continues unabated, promising high-quality darts and thrilling finishes, regardless of which stars are present or absent.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
