Luke Littler is finally set to kick off his 2026 season on the Players Championship circuit. The PDC has confirmed the line-up for Players Championships 27 and 28, scheduled for 25 and 26 August at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, with a field of 128 players in each tournament.
The details matter because the ProTour resumes with real ranking implications: the race for the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals is entering a more tightly contested phase. Littler is set to make his first appearance of the year in this series, whilst several big names are missing from the line-up.
The ProTour resumes with Littler, Humphries and Van Gerwen
According to the list published by the PDC, the two tournaments in Leicester will begin at 1.00 pm BST and will be broadcast on PDCTV, with four boards streamed per event. The format remains that of the ProTour: a 128-player draw, without a traditional television audience, but with points and prize money carrying significant weight in the end-of-season rankings.
The name that immediately stands out is Luke Littler. The world number one has not yet played in a Players Championship in 2026, which gives this double-header a different flavour. In this type of tournament, there are no gala settings or grand entrances: players must progress through the rounds, keep up the pace and ensure they don’t lose a low-profile session against a lesser-known opponent.
The announced line-up is also packed with quality. Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Stephen Bunting, Danny Noppert, Chris Dobey, Dave Chisnall, Beau Greaves and Thibault Tricole are among those entered. Following the Players Championships 25–26 held in Germany, Leicester is therefore set to be the next major milestone on the ProTour.
Absences that change the outlook for the double-header
The list of absentees is almost as telling as the list of those present. The PDC has confirmed that Gary Anderson, Jonny Clayton, Damon Heta, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock, Ross Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Gian van Veen and James Wade, amongst other Tour Card holders, will not be taking part.
On paper, this opens up space in the draw. For players already well-placed in the rankings, it’s an opportunity to consolidate their position. For those still chasing a place in the qualifiers, this is the sort of week where two strong runs can turn a season around. Now things are getting serious: the big autumn tournaments are approaching, and places are no longer handed out on the basis of reputation alone.
| Tournaments | Players Championships 27 and 28 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Mattioli Arena, Leicester |
| Dates | 25 and 26 August 2026 |
| Start of matches | 1.00 pm BST each day |
| Draw | 128 players per tournament |
| Broadcast | PDCTV and partner bookmakers |
Why these two days already matter
A Players Championship doesn’t always generate much buzz in the run-up. This time, the signs are clearer. Littler is returning to a ProTour environment where wear and tear and the grind matter just as much as raw ability. Humphries and Van Gerwen are in the mix, Greaves continues to gain experience in highly competitive draws, and Tricole will have another opportunity to pick up valuable results against the cream of the PDC circuit.
The outcome will be decided quickly. If Littler gets off to a strong start, his return to the Players Championship will immediately become a talking point ahead of the autumn. If he goes out early, the implications will be just as interesting: this double-header will already reveal something about his form away from the big stages.
