The World Grand Prix is a beast, man. That double in/double out format? Pure chaos, and it always shakes things up. This year, it’s not just shaking, it’s rocking the darts world because some HUGE names are staring down missing the whole dang event. The qualification field is almost locked, and you’re not gonna believe who’s on the outside looking in.
Former Champs Sidelined
Mike De Decker won this event in 2024. That’s a massive title! Now? He’s not even returning to compete. This year’s been rough. He only hit the final day of one European Tour event in 2026, and he’s missed ET events for the first time since 2024. De Decker is the current world number 24, but without prize money from the WGP and no shot at defending the £120,000 he won, his spot in the top 32 is seriously threatened. What a brutal fall from grace.
Then there’s Daryl Gurney, a WGP champion from 2017. He’s been in every single edition since 2014. That’s a streak! But not anymore. He’s not qualifying, and he’s set to lose £15,000 from two years ago. To make it worse, Gurney isn’t even in the Flanders Darts Trophy this weekend, so any last-minute scramble to qualify is off the table. His WGP run is over for 2026.
Legends and Rising Stars in Peril
The legends are hurting too. Raymond van Barneveld, a multi-time world champion, is expected to miss out, no surprise given his recent results. He last failed to make it in 2022, and hasn’t won a WGP game since 2018. Ouch. The next few months are critical for Barney to try and get back into World Championship qualification contention.
Peter Wright, runner-up in 2018 and a WGP fixture since 2013, is in the same boat. No solid, consistent form lately. It’s tough to see these guys struggle.
Martin Schindler’s year has been “very odd.” If he misses, it’s his first ranked major miss since the 2023 Grand Slam. He grabbed three ET titles between 2024-2025, but his Pro Tour performances haven’t cut it. He’s £6,500 out of a Pro Tour Order of Merit spot, and in deep danger.
And Michael Smith? Injuries have wrecked his form, absolutely tanking his ranking. He’s missing the WGP for a second straight year, a streak he hasn’t had since 2010-2011, even after being a semifinalist in 2023. This is just brutal.
The qualification cutoff is September 14th, right after the Flanders Darts Trophy this weekend. For some, like Gurney, it’s already done. For guys like RVB, it’s all about the next few months to save their World Championship hopes. The 2026 World Grand Prix is going to be wild, but man, it’s gonna be missing some serious star power. What a strange year for darts!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply