Field confirmed for 2025 Betfred World Matchplay

The field of players has been confirmed for the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay following the cut off at Players Championship 21.

The top 16 players on the Main Order of Merit will be joined by the next 16 highest ranked players on the ProTour Order of Merit at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 19-27.

Following Players Championship 21 in Leicester on Wednesday, the seeded contingent and ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers have now been finalised ahead of Thursday’s draw.

Reigning champion Luke Humphries is the number one seed as he bids to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the Betfred World Matchplay title.

Reigning World Champion Luke Littler is vying to register his first win on the iconic Winter Gardens stage and challenge to become the youngest champion in the tournament’s 31-year history.

Three-time champion Michael van Gerwen is the number three seed, while other former champions among the seeded contingent include James Wade, Gary Anderson, Rob Cross, Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall.

German number one Martin Schindler headlines the 16 ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers, based on prize money won in European Tour events and Players Championships over the past 12 months.

Cameron Menzies and Wessel Nijman are the two debutants in this year’s World Matchplay, alongside World Cup winners Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney.

Former finalist Raymond van Barneveld returns for his 15th World Matchplay appearance, while the likes of Gian van Veen, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Mike De Decker also make their return.

Michael Smith, runner-up in 2019, misses out on the World Matchplay for the first time since 2013, while other notable absentees include 2020 champion Dimitri van den Bergh, European Champion Ritchie Edhouse and Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski.

Betfred World Matchplay 2025 Field

Top 16 seeds from Main Order of Merit

Luke Humphries (1)
Luke Littler (2)
Michael van Gerwen (3)
Stephen Bunting (4)
Jonny Clayton (5)
Chris Dobey (6)
Damon Heta (7)
Nathan Aspinall (8)
James Wade (9)
Rob Cross (10)
Gerwyn Price (11)
Dave Chisnall (12)
Gary Anderson (13)
Ross Smith (14)
Peter Wright (15)
Danny Noppert (16)

ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers

Martin Schindler
Josh Rock
Cameron Menzies
Gian van Veen
Wessel Nijman
Ryan Searle
Mike De Decker
Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jermaine Wattimena
Andrew Gilding
Daryl Gurney
Joe Cullen
Ricardo Pietreczko
Luke Woodhouse
Raymond van Barneveld
Ryan Joyce