The penultimate major tournament of 2024 is upon us as the top 64 of the Pro Tour descend on Minehead for the Players Championship Finals.
The Pro Tour tends to carry a completely different form guide to the big TV tournaments and there’s been 21 different Players Championship winners this year.
None of the PDC Order of Merit top five are ranked in the Players Championship rankings heading into Minehead, with Chris Dobey, Stephen Bunting, Damon Heta, Ryan Searle, and Dave Chisnall leading the pack.
As such, there are plenty of dangerous opening-round ties for the top players at the event and anything can happen.
Here are five players who have a chance of winning the tournament.
Luke Littler
Luke Littler was in tremendous form in Wolverhampton during the Grand Slam of Darts as The Nuke claimed his second major tournament of the year.
The 17-year-old averaged over 100 in every match at the event and looked unplayable at times. He rode his luck at times against Gary Anderson and Mike De Decker, but he proved he never backs down from a challenge.
Littler faces a very tough opening-round tie against World No. 4 Rob Cross. If he gets through that win, he has to be made the favourite for the tournament.
Wessel Nijman
Wessel Nijman’s Grand Slam campaign was one of the more bizarre things seen on the PDC Tour this season.
The young Dutchman was terrific throughout the group stages, averaging 106, 105, and 111 in each of his games, and left the tournament without a win.
If Nijman continues his form from the Grand Slam, his unlucky streak won’t last too long and he has every right to drive deep into the competition.
Nijman faces out-of-form Kim Huybrechts in his opening-round clash at Minehead.
Gian Van Veen
Gian Van Veen flourished at the Grand Slam and looked the player of the tournament before succumbing to an inspired Gary Anderson.
Van Veen exited the so-called ‘Group of Death’ in Wolverhampton with relative ease, dispatching Bunting and Josh Rock with ease before gaining a narrow victory over Nijman.
Even Van Veen looked surprised by his high scoring in Wolverhampton, so it could be a stretch too far to replicate it at Minehead, but he can beat anyone on his day.
Van Veen faces World Championship semi-finalist Scott Williams in the first round of the Players Championship.
Luke Humphries
Luke Humphries was out of sorts at the Grand Slam, but he’s far too good to let those poor displays affect him heading into Minehead.
Humphries is the defending champion at the event and he’s proved he’s capable of claiming back-to-back titles this year.
Cool Hand hasn’t been his best on the Pro Tour this year -he’s ranked just 19th – but it’s a different kettle of fish up on the big stages.
Humphries plays Gabriel Clemens in the first round as he looks to keep hold of his 2023 title.
Gary Anderson
Despite Humphries and Littler’s dominance in 2024, Anderson’s aggregate average across all PDC matches is higher than both men with a score of 99.55.
Anderson’s been sublime on the Pro Tour this term – he’s ranked 6th – and he proved at the Grand Slam he’s still got what it takes to beat the big boys on the main stages.
Anderson was desperately unlucky to lose his last leg decided against Littler and he certainly comes into the Players Championship Finals as one of the favourites.
Anderson plays Ryan Meikle in his opening-round clash in Minehead.