JOHN KUCZYNSKI'S bid to win a place in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship rests on his performance in the WIndy City Open Players Championship next Sunday.
Kuczynski is currently the top-ranked American in the PDC Order of Merit and has played in the last two World Championships at the Circus Tavern.
The top two US players from the North American Order of Merit after the Windy City Open will win a place in this year's event at Alexandra Palace, with Gary Mawson and Ray Carver currently topping the list with £6,000 and £4,250 respectively.
Kuczynski is currently sat in fifth place on £2,300 - meaning that he would have to reach at least the final to surpass Carver, with the runner-up receiving £2,500 and winner taking home £5,000.
Jim Widmayer and Darin Young - who played in the 2005 and 2006 World Championships - would need to reach the semi-finals to jump above Carver - should the Chicago-based player fail to win any prize money himself.
Depending on the draw and results in Chicago, players as far as David Fatum in 19th place could still win a place at Alexandra Palace by winning the tournament.
Both Kuczynski and Widmayer won £300 at the recent Peachtree Open Players Championship in Atlanta, with Steve Brown matching their run to the last 16 to give himself a chance of making a comeback on the big stage.
Entries for the Windy City Open Players Championship close at 4pm (BST) on Thursday.
PDC North American Order of Merit
American Standings
| Gary Mawson | £6,000 |
| Ray Carver | £4,250 |
| Jim Widmayer | £3,475 |
| Darin Young | £3,225 |
| John Kuczynski | £2,300 |
| Frederick Krueger | £1,575 |
| Brian Blake | £1,500 |
| Chris Linkous | £1,500 |
| Bill Davis | £1,375 |
| Larry Butler | £1,175 |
| Roger Carter | £1,150 |
| Isen Veljic | £1,150 |
| Chris White | £1,075 |
| Jeffrey Russell | £1,000 |
| David Walsh | £1,000 |
| Joseph Swick | £400 |
| Brad Wethington | £325 |
| Steve Brown | £300 |
| David Fatum | £250 |