THE race for places in July's World Matchplay is hotting up, with four Players Championships and two European Tour events remaining for players battling to qualify for the Blackpool tournament.
The World Matchplay, to be held from July 21-29 at the Winter Gardens, sees the world's top 16 players joined by the leading 16 qualifiers from the PDC's non-televised tournaments held in the first half of the year.
Phil Taylor heads the world rankings as he prepares to challenge for an incredible 13th World Matchplay title, and his fifth successive win at the Winter Gardens.
World Champion Adrian Lewis, 2007 World Matchplay winner James Wade, Scotland's Gary Anderson and Fleetwood's Wes Newton are also secure of their places in the event, alongside the likes of former finalists Raymond van Barneveld and Terry Jenkins.
Justin Pipe has risen to 12th in the PDC Order of Merit to secure his automatic place in Blackpool, although he currently heads the ProTour Order of Merit after winning £34,400 this year, including his European Tour Event One triumph.
Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter and 2005 World Matchplay winner Colin Lloyd have both dropped out of the world's top 16 this year, but are currently amongst the 16 provisional qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit.
In-form Dave Chisnall, who won both Players Championships held in Crawley last weekend, heads the 16 qualifiers after winning £30,000 so far this year.
Belgium's Kim Huybrechts, St Helens youngster Michael Smith, Stoke's Ian White, Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan and Yorkshire pair Dean Winstanley and Joe Cullen are also on course to make their World Matchplay debuts following impressive starts to 2012.
Former Blackpool finalist Richie Burnett is also amongst the current qualifiers, but two players who have lost in a total of five World Matchplay finals - Canada's John Part and Dennis Priestley - are outside of the current qualifying places.
2009 semi-finalist Mervyn King and Colin Osborne also need a late run in the six remaining qualifying tournaments, while PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion James Hubbard is also within touching distance of earning a World Matchplay debut.
Four Players Championships remain to be held across two double-header weekends in Birmingham and Crawley, with the second and third European Tour events to be held in Berlin and Dusseldorf before the World Matchplay qualifiers are confirmed on July 8.
Following unprecedented early sales of tickets for the World Matchplay mean that the PDC expect to welcome a record aggregate crowd to the tournament this summer.
Tickets for the World Matchplay, which will be played from July 21-29 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, are still available by calling 0844 856 1111 or via www.blackpoollive.com.
World Matchplay Qualifiers
Current PDC Top 16
Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis
James Wade
Gary Anderson
Wes Newton
Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld
Mark Webster
Terry Jenkins
Kevin Painter
Justin Pipe
Mark Walsh
Vincent van der Voort
Wayne Jones
Paul Nicholson
Current ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers
Dave Chisnall
Kim Huybrechts
Michael Smith
Andy Smith
Michael van Gerwen
Ian White
Brendan Dolan
Richie Burnett
Dean Winstanley
Joe Cullen
Jamie Caven
Colin Lloyd
Ronnie Baxter
Steve Beaton
Robert Thornton
Peter Wright