The race to qualify for the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues this weekend, as the inaugural Slovak Darts Open takes place in Bratislava. The ninth European Tour event of 2026 will see 48 players battling it out in the Slovakian capital from June 19-21, with Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen among the stars […]
The race to qualify for the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues this weekend, as the inaugural Slovak Darts Open takes place in Bratislava.
The ninth European Tour event of 2026 will see 48 players battling it out in the Slovakian capital from June 19-21, with Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen among the stars in action.
There are just three events remaining before the Betfred World Matchplay qualification cut-off, and the 32-player field for next month’s showpiece will be confirmed following the conclusion of Players Championship 24 on July 7.
The top 16 players from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder will be seeded at the Winter Gardens, as they go head-to-head with 16 qualifiers from the 12-month ProTour rankings.
Reigning champion Luke Littler is chasing back-to-back titles in Blackpool, with 2024 winner Luke Humphries and three-time champion Van Gerwen also poised to headline.
Former champions James Wade, Gary Anderson and Nathan Aspinall are also set to feature as seeded representatives, alongside Welsh duo Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, plus European Champion Van Veen.
Luke Woodhouse heads up the 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour rankings, with 2019 champion Rob Cross confirming his Winter Gardens spot following a timely return to form.
German number one Martin Schindler will be joined by his compatriot Niko Springer – one of several impending debutants – while Dutch duo Kevin Doets and Niels Zonneveld are also set to make their Blackpool bows.
William O’Connor will make his World Matchplay debut courtesy of his exploits over the last 12 months, although a number of high-profile names are in danger of missing out, including five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall.
Chisnall has competed in each of the last 15 editions of the World Matchplay, but he arrives in Bratislava currently £4,250 adrift of the final qualification spot currently occupied by Cameron Menzies.
The pair will both play Host Nation representatives in their opening round ties at the Incheba Expo, as Kim Huybrechts and Karel Sedlacek bid to preserve their qualification hopes with strong showings in Slovakia.
2022/23 World Champion Michael Smith looks set to miss out on qualification, while former World Matchplay winners Peter Wright and Dimitri Van den Bergh are now unable to make the cut.
Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld – a World Matchplay runner-up in 2010 – will be another high-profile absentee this year, as Belgian number one Mike De Decker faces an uphill battle to qualify.
The table below displays the latest standings in the race to the Betfred World Matchplay, which will take place at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens from July 18-26, televised live on Sky Sports and through the PDC’s global broadcast partners.
