PDC Order of Merit - Desert Classic & World Matchplay Places Confirmed

THE automatic qualifiers for the Las Vegas Desert Classic and Stan James World Matchplay are now confirmed following the Blue Square UK Open.

The UK Open was the final event to determine rankings for the next two major tournaments.

The top 12 players now qualify by right for the Desert Classic, which will be played from 2-8 July at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Remaining players will now battle to join them and the four North American pre-qualifiers in the hat for round one over two days of qualifying for the last 16 places.

John Part, the defending Desert Classic champion, held on to 12th place while Andy Hamilton and James Wade will be automatically in the event for the first time.

Las Vegas Desert Classic - Automatic Qualifiers
Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld
Colin Lloyd
Peter Manley
Terry Jenkins
Dennis Priestley
Adrian Lewis
Wayne Mardle
Roland Scholten
Andy Hamilton
James Wade
John Part

The top 28 players qualify for the Stan James World Matchplay, where they will be joined by the leading four players (not already in the top 28) from the Players Championship Order of Merit following next weekend's two events at Hayling Island.

Alex Roy is the unlucky man to miss out, dropping to 29th following the UK Open with Ireland's Mick McGowan leaping to 27th with his performance.

Bob Anderson clung onto 28th place, despite his early exit at Bolton which left him with no prize money from the UK Open and an anxious weekend watching his rivals in action.

Vincent van der Voort's run to the final of the UK Open moves him into the top 50 of the PDC world rankings for the first time - but only a win over Raymond van Barneveld in the Bolton decider would have taken him into the top 28.

Stan James World Matchplay - Automatic Qualifiers
Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld
Colin Lloyd
Peter Manley
Terry Jenkins
Dennis Priestley
Adrian Lewis
Wayne Mardle
Roland Scholten
Andy Hamilton
James Wade
John Part
Ronnie Baxter
Andy Jenkins
Barrie Bates
Kevin Painter
Chris Mason
Mark Dudbridge
Denis Ovens
Colin Osborne
Wayne Jones
Alan Tabern
Wes Newton
Andy Smith
Alan Warriner-Little
Mark Walsh
Mick McGowan
Bob Anderson

Click here to see the full Order of Merit