The darting world is buzzing with unexpected news as three prominent players – former World Champion Michael Smith, rising German star Martin Schindler, and history-making Beau Greaves – are surprisingly on the brink of failing to qualify for the prestigious 2026 World Grand Prix. Despite their impressive careers and recent achievements, each player faces a precarious qualification scenario, needing significant results in upcoming events to secure their spot in one of darts’ most challenging tournaments. This situation highlights the intense competition and unforgiving nature of professional darts, where even established names can find themselves in a battle for qualification.
Michael Smith: The Bully Boy’s Unforeseen Struggle
It’s hard to believe, but Michael Smith, the 2023 World Darts Champion, finds himself surprisingly outside the qualification places for the 2026 World Grand Prix. While his performance in 2025 hasn’t been his strongest, seeing ‘Bully Boy’ in this position is a shock to many.
- Current Standing: Smith is projected to be 36th in the Order of Merit and 34th in the Pro Tour Order of Merit.
- Qualification Challenge: He cannot earn enough money in the next European Tour event to catch up, short of a truly miraculous performance.
- Past Consistency: This potential miss follows his failure to qualify last year (for the 2025 WGP), but prior to that, he had competed in the tournament every year from 2014 to 2024, including a strong run to the semi-finals in 2023.
For a player of Smith’s caliber, a consistent TV major regular, this struggle is a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional darts.
Martin Schindler: Germany’s Hopes on the Line
For German darting sensation Martin Schindler, 2025 has been a somewhat underwhelming year so far, especially after becoming a familiar face in major televised events. His qualification hopes hang by a thread.
- Current Standing: Schindler currently sits 32nd in the year-to-date rankings.
- Financial Gap: He is £6,500 behind the final Pro Tour Order of Merit qualification place, which is currently held by Cristo Reyes.
- The Requirement: This means Schindler needs to reach at least the quarter-finals of this weekend’s Flanders Darts Trophy to have any realistic chance of sneaking into the qualification spots, and even then, he’ll need other results to go his way.
- Previous Performance: Schindler has made four appearances at the World Grand Prix, with his best run being a quarter-final appearance in 2023.
The pressure is immense for Schindler as he seeks to secure his place in the prestigious double-start, double-finish tournament.
Beau Greaves: A Historic Year, Grand Prix Dream on Hold?
Beau Greaves has captivated audiences on the Pro Tour this year, making history last week by defeating Daryl Gurney to become the first woman to win a match on the European Tour. Her talent is undeniable, but World Grand Prix qualification remains a distant goal for now.
- Qualification Gap: Greaves is currently £14,250 behind the qualification places.
- Path to Qualification: This significant deficit means she would likely need to reach the final of the next European Tour event to stand any realistic chance of making the World Grand Prix.
- Silver Lining: However, missing out this year would certainly not diminish what has been an incredibly successful 2025 for Greaves. She has already achieved significant milestones and has already secured her spot for this year’s Grand Slam of Darts, proving her elite status.
While the World Grand Prix might be out of reach for 2026, Greaves’ groundbreaking performances this year signal a very bright future for the rising star.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
