The Players Championship double-header in Milton Keynes is just days away, but the field has taken a major hit with seven Tour Card holders opting out. Nathan Aspinall, Jonny Clayton, Luke Littler, Pero Ljubic, Pascal Rupprecht, Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price have all chosen to skip Players Championship 11 and 12, set for Monday, April 27 and Tuesday, April 28 at Arena MK.
Their absence opens the door for seven Challenge Tour call-ups: Joe Hunt, Derek Coulson, Tommy Lishman, Aden Kirk, Martijn Dragt, Jack Tweddell and Nathan Potter will step in to fill the vacancies. Despite the high-profile withdrawals, the lineup remains stacked with talent. Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey, Luke Humphries, Josh Rock, Gian van Veen and James Wade are among those confirmed to compete for the titles over two days of floor action.
Recent form suggests a wide-open tournament. Chris Dobey claimed the title at Players Championship 9, while Wessel Nijman added a third floor triumph in 2026 with victory at Players Championship 10. The full list of 128 participants includes the likes of Rob Cross, Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith, Raymond van Barneveld, Peter Wright, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Damon Heta, Ryan Searle, and many more.
