Players Championship Finals 2026: FAQ

FAQ

When and where do the Players Championship Finals 2026 take place?

The Players Championship Finals 2026 take place from 27 to 29 November 2026 at Butlin's Resort in Minehead (England). Friday and Saturday each feature an afternoon session from 1.45pm and an evening session from 8pm; on Sunday the quarter-finals follow from 1.45pm, the semi-finals from 8pm and the final from 10.45pm.

Who is the defending champion at the PC Finals 2026 – and is he playing?

The defending champion is Luke Littler, who won the 2025 final 11-8 against Nathan Aspinall to claim his ninth major title just a week after the Grand Slam of Darts. A title defence is out of the question, though: in 2026 Littler played only two events in the series, sits 128th in the qualifying ranking with £10,500 and has withdrawn from the final double-header in Leicester. The tournament's record winner is Michael van Gerwen with seven titles.

Why is Nathan Aspinall missing from the Players Championship Finals 2026?

Nathan Aspinall withdrew from the closing Players Championships 33 and 34 in Leicester at short notice on 2 November 2026. That means he can no longer move into the top 64 of the Players Championship Order of Merit: he played only 13 of the 32 events held so far and earned £26,500. With Aspinall and Luke Littler, both of last year's finalists are missing from the Players Championship Finals 2026.

How much prize money is there at the darts in Minehead 2026?

The total prize money for the Players Championship Finals rises by £150,000 in 2026, from £600,000 to £750,000. The winner receives £130,000 for the first time, the runner-up £70,000 and the semi-finalists £40,000 each; a first-round defeat is worth £4,000.

What format is played at the PC Finals?

The tournament is played as a knockout with 64 players. Rounds 1 and 2 are Best of 11 Legs, the last 16 and the quarter-finals Best of 19 Legs, while the semi-finals and the final are played as Best of 21 Legs. Since 64 players have been taking part since 2016, the matches in the first three rounds are split across two stages.

How do you qualify for the Players Championship Finals?

The top 64 players in the Players Championship Order of Merit qualify; only the 34 non-televised Players Championship events on the PDC Pro Tour count towards it, and the prize money won there is decisive. The cut-off date is 5 November 2026, i.e. the end of the last two events of the series in Leicester on 4 and 5 November 2026. The regular PDC Order of Merit has no bearing on who gets a spot.

Who is still fighting for the last spots before the darts finals tournament in Minehead 2026?

After Players Championship 32, Wesley Plaisier holds the last qualifying place with £31,750; Gerwyn Price (58th) has a lead of only £2,250 with £34,000, and Mike De Decker (61st) has £33,250. Gary Anderson (68th, just £2,000 behind), Josh Rock (80th) and Raymond van Barneveld (81st, £25,750) are on the entry list for the last two events in Leicester and can still force their way into the top 64. The best German is Martin Schindler in 46th, with Ricardo Pietreczko 73rd.

What does the draw for the Darts Players Championship Finals 2026 look like?

The published bracket (as of 30 October 2026) features first-round ties including Wessel Nijman against Wesley Plaisier, Michael van Gerwen against Joe Hunt, Beau Greaves against Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross against Martin Schindler and Ryan Searle against Gian van Veen. What counts is the Players Championship Order of Merit on the 5 November 2026 cut-off date, so the field can still change until then.