Littler absent, Aspinall withdraws as van Barneveld chases Ally Pally place at final Players Championships

The PDC's last two floor events of 2026, Players Championships 33 and 34, take place today and tomorrow (Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 November) at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. Luke Littler is not in the field, and Nathan Aspinall has withdrawn at the last minute. Several big names, Raymond van Barneveld among them, need results this week to secure places at the Players Championship Finals, the World Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts.

Littler and Aspinall out

Littler has played only two floor events this year, according to Dartsnews. Missing the Leicester double-header confirms he will not play in the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, where he won last year's title by beating Aspinall 11-8 in the final.

Aspinall withdrew from both events at the last minute. Dartsnews said the exact reason was not known. The world number nine had played 13 of the 32 floor events this season and was 77th on the Players Championship Order of Merit with £26,500. His withdrawal rules him out of Minehead, so neither of last year's finalists will be there. Gian van Veen has also pulled out of the last two events, but at 43rd on the list his place in Minehead is already secure.

The Minehead bubble

The top 64 on the Players Championship Order of Merit qualify for Minehead. Going into this week:

• Gerwyn Price is 58th with £34,000, just £2,250 ahead of 64th-placed Wesley Plaisier. Two first-round exits could cost him his place.
• Mike De Decker is 61st with £33,250.
• Gary Anderson is just outside the top 64, about £2,000 short.
• Josh Rock is 80th and probably needs at least one semi-final.
• Raymond van Barneveld is 81st with £25,750, £6,000 behind Plaisier. Dartsnews estimated he needs two semi-finals, a final or a title.

Van Barneveld's Ally Pally bid

Van Barneveld also has a second race to run. The 59-year-old is 40th on the PDC ProTour Order of Merit, the last automatic qualifying place for the 2027 World Championship, which starts at Alexandra Palace on 11 December. The top 40 on that list who are not already in through the world rankings earn a place.

Prize money only counts once a player wins a match, so a first-round loss adds nothing while a rival can move past with a single win. Dartsnews reported that only £5,000 separates 35th from 50th, so van Barneveld will not know for certain until Thursday's event is over. Former professional Vincent van der Voort said on the Darts Draait Door podcast that missing out would hit van Barneveld hard.

For players who miss out, four more World Championship places are available at the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on 30 November.

Grand Slam places also at stake

The Grand Slam of Darts runs from 14 to 22 November in Wolverhampton, with a field expanded to 48 players and a £1 million prize fund. As of Tuesday, 36 players had confirmed places, including Charlie Manby and Raymond Smith, according to Dartsnews. Winning Players Championship 33 or 34 can earn a direct place. If an event winner has already qualified, that place passes to the Tour Card Holder Qualifier, which completes the field.

Key takeaways

• Players Championships 33 and 34 are on 4 and 5 November in Leicester and are the last floor events of 2026.
• Luke Littler is absent and Nathan Aspinall has withdrawn, so neither of last year's Players Championship finalists will play in Minehead.
• Raymond van Barneveld is 40th on the ProTour Order of Merit, the final automatic World Championship place.
• Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson and Josh Rock are around the top-64 cut for Minehead.

FAQ

When are Players Championships 33 and 34? They are on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 November 2026 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, and they are the final two PDC floor events of the year.

Why is Nathan Aspinall missing the Players Championship Finals? He withdrew from the last two floor events while 77th on the Players Championship Order of Merit. Without them he cannot reach the top 64 needed to qualify. Dartsnews said the reason for his withdrawal was not known.

When does the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 start? It starts on Saturday 14 November in Wolverhampton and runs until 22 November, with 48 players and a £1 million prize fund.

Sources: Dartsnews, Wikipedia