Ross Smith Secures Top‑15 Seed as World Matchplay Race Heats Up

**Ross Smith locked in a guaranteed 15th seed for the 2026 World Matchplay on Tuesday, 2 July 2026, as the final Players Championship event determines the remaining Blackpool qualifiers.**

The 24th Players Championship of the year is the last chance for players outside the top‑16 PDC Order of Merit to earn a place at the televised major in Blackpool. With the top‑16 already seeded, Smith’s position is safe, but the day will decide who joins him.

Smith’s 15th‑seed guarantee means he will avoid a first‑round clash with another seeded player at the World Matchplay. The seeding order-Luke Littler (1), Luke Humphries (2), Gian van Veen (3), Michael van Gerwen (4) through to Nathan Aspinall (16)-remains fixed for the tournament, though the exact draw will be set after the ProTour qualifiers finish.

For Smith, the security allows him to focus on preparation rather than fighting for a spot. He can now fine‑tune his practice sessions, knowing his opponent in the opening round will be drawn from the unseeded field.

The ProTour Order of Merit still has two open places. Damon Heta sits 15th and Daryl Gurney 16th, each needing a win on Tuesday to keep their hopes alive. The gap between them is a mere £250, meaning a single victory could tip the balance.

Dave Chisnall, fresh from a semi‑final run at Players Championship 23, sits just £500 behind the final qualification slot. If he reaches the semi‑final again, he could push Heta or Gurney out.

Kim Huybrechts, Karel Sedlacek, Sebastian Bialecki and Jeffrey de Graaf also remain in contention. Huybrechts must hit at least the semi‑finals, Sedlacek needs a final appearance, while Bialecki and de Graaf must win the event outright to claim a berth.

The winner of Players Championship 24 will pocket £15,000. That sum exceeds the current £15,000 gap between the 16th and 17th spots on the world rankings, confirming that the top‑16 on the PDC Order of Merit will all be seeded for the World Matchplay.

Because the prize money can swing the ProTour standings dramatically, every match on Tuesday carries extra weight. A player who reaches the quarter‑finals will see his earnings jump enough to alter the order of merit.

With his seed locked, Smith now turns his attention to the build‑up events leading to Blackpool. He has indicated a desire to sharpen his checkout percentages and work on his double‑top finishes.

The World Matchplay kicks off in mid‑July, and Smith will face an unseeded opponent drawn from the pool of qualifiers. His recent form, highlighted by a steady run of 90+ averages in recent ProTour events, suggests he could make a deep run.

The final Players Championship will close the qualification window, but for Ross Smith the biggest story is already written: a secure seed and a clear path to focus on performance rather than survival.

Tuesday’s matches will produce the last two qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit. If Heta wins his opening match, he will lock the 15th spot, pushing Gurney to the edge. A win for Gurney would reverse that scenario.

Chisnall’s semi‑final run could see him snatch the final place, while Huybrechts, Sedlacek, Bialecki and de Graaf remain on the outside looking in. The stakes are high; a single leg can decide a career‑defining appearance at one of darts’ most prestigious stages.

The drama will unfold on the floor of the Players Championship venue, with the world watching to see who joins Ross Smith in Blackpool.