Nuland the final battleground for World Matchplay qualification

The PDC Players Championships move onto foreign soil this weekend as Nuland, Holland provides the stage for two crucial tournaments that will decide the last few participants in the World Matchplay next month.

As the last few tournaments have demonstrated, anyone can pick up victories at the minute and these two competitions will be no different, especially when you see who won’t be competing.  The travelling may have put some players off  as some may have decided that it’s not worth the risk of not picking up the prize money needed to qualify for Blackpool, and those already qualified preferring to stay and practice at home.  The latter would include Phil Taylor, who misses his second weekend event in a row, and World Champ Adrian Lewis who also isn’t making the trip.  Terry Jenkins, Mervyn King and Paul Nicholson have also declined the opportunity, and this will leave many players really fancying their chances.

It is a shame to see that the likes of Dennis Priestley and Wayne Mardle aren’t making the trip to The Netherlands and as such are admitting defeat in their attempts to qualify for the Matchplay.  Neither man is within the top 16 in the world or the top 16 players in the Players Championship Order of Merit that aren’t in the overall top 16, and so won’t be able to qualify without the potential winnings from Nuland.

There are plenty of players though, who will be giving it their all to get inside the magic top 16 in the Players Champs Order of Merit.  The magic figure currently is winnings of £4,200 which Colin Osbourne, Magnus Caris and Antonio Alcinas have all picked up and they lie in 15^th, 16^th and 17^th place in the standings.  If anyone can better these players and move ahead of them then they are in with a chance, and with the winner of each tournament again picking up £6000, there’s plenty of room for manoeuvre in the table.

Here are my players to watch out for in Nuland who I think have got a chance of crashing the party in Blackpool.

Steve Beaton £3600 – The Adonis has been in decent form over the last couple of months and is just £600 behind the magic number, I’d certainly back him over Alcinas or Caris if he were to face them.

Co Stompe £3600 – Again not far behind, and with home advantage he could well reach a quarter or semi-final which would make all the difference.

Robert Thornton £3400 – I find The Thorn hard to predict, he’s obviously a very good player and capable of winning events like this, but is prone to very bad days, I won’t right him off though.

Richie Burnett £3200 – The Prince of Wales is getting back to some very good form and has made a late push for qualification.  He’ll need a run to a quarter-final I reckon, but he’s very capable.

Jelle Klaasen £3000 – The former World Champ will have to produce some good performances, but again, with home advantage he might just find a rhythm and when he does he’s unstoppable.

Of course this isn’t an exhaustive list and the likes of William O’Connor, Roland Scholten and Brendan Dolan also have a chance.  The draw is crucial though as there is some real quality still around with Wade, Anderson and a returning van Barneveld on show.  With the loser in the first round in Blackpool picking up £5000, everyone will be going all out in Nuland to make sure they are at the seaside next month.