The draw has been set for Players Championship 17, which is due to commence this afternoon at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. As ever with the ProTour as of late, many of the top names have decided not to be involved, albeit not every big name has decided to pull out, unlike previous weeks. Michael van Gerwen is absent this week, while Luke Littler continues not to play at all this year in these events. Gerwyn Price appeared to be playing at least today and not tomorrow, but has withdrawn from both as he has not appeared in the draw for this afternoon. He was never due to play Players Championship 18 anyway it appears due to an appointment on health issues he has been struggling with.
Despite Littler, Van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall, and Gary Anderson as well as Price not bothering, there are some returns. Luke Humphries and Jonny Clayton haven't played in the last few but will return. Humphries, in particular, has been absent for part of the ProTour season as he has balanced his calendar but will play today. Clayton and Humphries both will play at The O2 next week, and it semi makes sense playing this double header given that the final night of regular Premier League action is in Sheffield. Sheffield being a short distance away from Leicester makes it perhaps one of the easier to attend. Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gian van Veen from that line-up will also play.
Among the top ties include Van Veen facing Mike de Decker. Also James Wade faces Dimitri van den Bergh. Wessel Nijman, who has won five of these this year, will also aim to resume his dominance alongside Chris Dobey, who also plays. Beau Greaves, too, has won a ProTour this year and has just come off two days of Women's Series action, and she opens up against Jeffrey de Zwaan. Play begins in Leicester at around 13 BST.
