The end of September marks a crucial period in the darts calendar, as players battle for a place in the 2025 PDC World Grand Prix, one of the sport’s most iconic tournaments. Scheduled from October 6–12 in Leicester, the double-in, double-out major will feature the top 32 players: the top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit and the top 16 from the Pro Tour rankings not already qualified.
With just two events left before the qualification cutoff on Sunday, September 28, the stage is set for a dramatic finish. The final qualifying tournaments are:
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Hungarian Darts Trophy (Sept. 19–21) – Budapest
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Swiss Darts Trophy (Sept. 26–28) – Basel
By the end of the Swiss event, the 32-man field for the World Grand Prix will be locked in.
Humphries Leads Expanded Seeding List
Starting with the 2025 edition, the PDC has expanded the number of seeded players at the World Grand Prix from 8 to 16, mirroring the format of other majors like the World Matchplay. This means top-ranked players could clash as early as the second round.
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Luke Humphries has already secured the No. 1 seed, though his position as world number one is under increasing threat from Luke Littler, who will enter as the second seed. The two cannot meet before the final, setting up the possibility of a blockbuster showdown.
Michael van Gerwen, seeded third, lands in Littler’s half of the draw. Other confirmed participants include:
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Stephen Bunting
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James Wade
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Jonny Clayton
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Gerwyn Price
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Chris Dobey
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Rob Cross
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Damon Heta
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Josh Rock
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Gary Anderson
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Ross Smith
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Danny Noppert
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Dave Chisnall
Seeding positions will be finalized following the final Euro Tour event in Switzerland.
Wright in Danger of Missing Out
Two-time world champion Peter Wright is in real danger of missing his first World Grand Prix since 2012. Currently 15th on the Order of Merit, Wright cannot rely on his Pro Tour ranking and holds just a £2,750 cushion over 16th-placed Dave Chisnall, who can fall back on Pro Tour results.
The bigger threats, however, come from below:
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Martin Schindler – £9,750 behind Wright
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Gian van Veen – £11,750 behind Wright
Both Schindler and Van Veen have qualified for the upcoming Euro Tour events and will be looking to close the gap. Wright will need a solid showing to maintain his place, or risk being a major absentee.
Dutch Contingent Grows – Nijman Set for Debut
Dutch talent will be well represented once again. As of now, six Dutch players are virtually qualified:
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Michael van Gerwen
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Danny Noppert (via Order of Merit)
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Wessel Nijman (set for debut via Pro Tour)
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Gian van Veen
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Jermaine Wattimena
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Dirk van Duijvenbode
Wessel Nijman has had an excellent Pro Tour season and is currently the third-highest ranked player on the Pro Tour not already qualified via the main rankings.
The number could rise to seven or eight if:
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Niels Zonneveld (£4,250 behind the cutoff)
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Raymond van Barneveld (£5,250 behind)
…manage to push into the field. Only Van Barneveld has qualified for both remaining Euro Tour events, while Zonneveld and William O’Connor (currently 16th on the Pro Tour ranking) will play only in Switzerland. Barney will likely need a last-16 run or better to leapfrog the pair and secure his spot.
Big Names Missing Out
Two notable stars have already fallen short of qualification:
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Michael Smith – Will miss his first World Grand Prix since 2013
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Dimitri van den Bergh – A semifinalist in 2024, ends a five-year appearance streak
Both have dropped out of the world’s top 16 and failed to make enough of an impact on the Pro Tour to qualify.
2024 Champion Returns
Defending champion Mike De Decker will return to Leicester after his fairytale 2024 run, where he stunned the field with wins over:
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Damon Heta (2-1)
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Gary Anderson (3-0)
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James Wade (3-0)
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Dimitri van den Bergh (5-2)
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Luke Humphries (6-4) in the final
His place is already secured through the Pro Tour.
What’s Next?
With just two tournaments left and so many places still up for grabs, all eyes will be on Budapest and Basel. For players like Peter Wright, Van Barneveld, Schindler, and Zonneveld, the pressure is on to deliver—and for fans, the qualification race offers a thrilling prelude to one of darts’ most unique and unpredictable majors.
