The countdown is on for the 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals, where top darts players will converge at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from November 22-24. This prestigious event will showcase the best 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit after a season packed with 30 events, all leading up to this climactic tournament. With a prize pool of £600,000 and high stakes for the world’s top-ranked darts players, fans are in for an action-packed, three-day showdown as players battle for one of the sport’s top honors just before the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship in December.
Defending champion Luke Humphries, currently world No. 1, kicks off his title defense against Germany’s Gabriel Clemens. This match marks the beginning of an intense tournament for Humphries, who defeated Michael van Gerwen in a memorable final last year and is now gearing up for a potentially historic back-to-back championship run. Humphries, known for his precise finishing and unshakeable focus under pressure, has had a solid season, and his confidence will be key as he faces Clemens in this challenging opener.
Meanwhile, the draw has also set up an exciting clash between rising star Luke Littler and seasoned player Rob Cross. Littler, who enters the tournament as the eighth seed after clinching three Players Championship titles in his debut season, faces Cross in a rematch of their head-to-head at the World Grand Prix in October, where Littler was narrowly defeated. Despite his youth, Littler’s remarkable rise on the PDC ProTour has established him as one to watch, though the 2018 world champion Cross will undoubtedly be a tough opponent, bringing his experience and competitive edge to the opening round.
Elsewhere in the bracket, Michael van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, will open his campaign against 2019 semi-finalist Ian White. Van Gerwen has his eyes on extending his record with an eighth Players Championship Finals title. Known for his power scoring and mental resilience, Van Gerwen’s experience in high-stakes tournaments makes him a perennial favorite, but White is no stranger to causing upsets and will be aiming to pull off a surprise.
Top-seeded Chris Dobey is set for a challenging opener against Nathan Aspinall, ranked No. 8, who just clinched the final qualification spot. Dobey’s strong season performance has earned him the top seed, but Aspinall, known for his resilience and quick scoring, is sure to put up a fight as he aims to progress deep into the tournament.
Several other first-round matches promise fireworks, including the battle between Stephen Bunting, a six-time Players Championship runner-up this season, and Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde. Bunting enters the tournament as the second seed and will be eager to finally secure a championship title after several near misses. Meanwhile, third-seed Damon Heta faces two-time finalist Mervyn King, and Dave Chisnall, known for his accuracy and high checkout percentages, goes head-to-head with Joe Cullen in a rematch of their 2022 Masters final.
The tournament will also see intense matchups between former finalists, with Jonny Clayton facing Germany’s Florian Hempel and Gerwyn Price taking on France’s Thibault Tricole. Price, known for his aggressive style and formidable scoring, is a player to watch as he hopes to build momentum heading into the 2025 World Darts Championship.
A particularly intriguing showdown will be between Daryl Gurney and Peter Wright, two former Players Championship Finals winners. Both players have had consistent seasons and are known for their unique playing styles and competitive tenacity. World No. 2 Michael Smith will play against Dom Taylor, a new face in the tournament, while European Champion Ritchie Edhouse takes on Luke Woodhouse.
Here’s a breakdown of the first-round draw:
**Players Championship Finals – Full First-Round Draw**
1. Chris Dobey (1) vs. Nathan Aspinall (64)
2. William O’Connor (32) vs. Niels Zonneveld (33)
3. Mike De Decker (16) vs. Richard Veenstra (49)
4. Michael van Gerwen (17) vs. Ian White (48)
5. Luke Littler (8) vs. Rob Cross (57)
6. Ritchie Edhouse (25) vs. Luke Woodhouse (40)
7. Danny Noppert (9) vs. James Hurrell (56)
8. James Wade (24) vs. Stephen Burton (41)
9. Ryan Searle (4) vs. Jeffrey de Graaf (61)
10. Gerwyn Price (29) vs. Thibault Tricole (36)
11. Wessel Nijman (13) vs. Kim Huybrechts (52)
12. Gian van Veen (20) vs. Scott Williams (45)
13. Dave Chisnall (5) vs. Joe Cullen (60)
14. Andrew Gilding (28) vs. Kevin Doets (37)
15. Ross Smith (12) vs. Dimitri Van den Bergh (53)
16. Wesley Plaisier (21) vs. Mensur Suljovic (44)
17. Stephen Bunting (2) vs. Mario Vandenbogaerde (63)
18. Martin Lukeman (31) vs. Connor Scutt (34)
19. Daryl Gurney (15) vs. Peter Wright (50)
20. Michael Smith (18) vs. Dom Taylor (47)
21. Josh Rock (7) vs. Ricky Evans (58)
22. Alan Soutar (26) vs. Jermaine Wattimena (39)
23. Jonny Clayton (10) vs. Florian Hempel (55)
24. Dirk van Duijvenbode (23) vs. Callan Rydz (42)
25. Damon Heta (3) vs. Mervyn King (62)
26. Krzysztof Ratajski (30) vs. Madars Razma (35)
27. Raymond van Barneveld (14) vs. Chris Landman (51)
28. Luke Humphries (19) vs. Gabriel Clemens (46)
29. Gary Anderson (6) vs. Ryan Meikle (59)
30. Brendan Dolan (27) vs. Martin Schindler (38)
31. Cameron Menzies (11) vs. Jim Williams (54)
32. Ryan Joyce (22) vs. Karel Sedlacek (43)
The format is designed for high-paced action, with all first-round matches taking place on Friday, November 22. Saturday will see a double session, with the second round in the afternoon and the third round in the evening, setting up for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final on Sunday, November 24.
With this event as the final major tournament before the highly anticipated 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, all eyes will be on Minehead to see who can capture the momentum and secure one last victory before the end-of-year showdown at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. Fans can catch every moment live, exclusively on Sky Sports.