Minehead Showpiece
The darts world turns its attention to the south coast of England for the season-ending ProTour event: the 2025 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals. This tournament, running from November 21st to 23rd at Butlin's Minehead Resort, England, features the top performers of the darts circuit. The event features the Top 64 players who qualified through the Players Championship Order of Merit competing for a share of a bumper £600,000 prize fund. Luke Humphries is the defending champion, aiming for a third consecutive crown.
Tournament Format and Prize Money
Qualification and Format
The field is determined by the Top 64 players based on the prize money won across the 34-event 2025 Players Championship series. It is a straight knockout tournament. The schedule of play runs across two stages from Friday, November 21st, to Sunday, November 23rd:
- Friday: Double session for Round One.
- Saturday: Round Two (Afternoon) and Round Three (Evening).
- Sunday: Quarterfinals (Afternoon) followed by the Semi-Finals, the Winmau World Youth Championship Final (featuring Beau Greaves and Gian van Veen), and the Final (Evening).
The match lengths increase as the tournament progresses:
- Round One & Two: Best of 11 legs.
- Round Three & Quarterfinals: Best of 19 legs.
- Semi-Finals & Final: Best of 21 legs.
Prize Money Breakdown
The total prize fund is £600,000.
| Stage | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Winner | £120,000 |
| Runner-Up | £60,000 |
| Semi-Finalists (x2) | £30,000 |
| Quarter-Finalists (x4) | £20,000 |
| Third Round Losers (Last 16) | £10,000 |
| Second Round Losers (Last 32) | £6,500 |
| First Round Losers (Last 64) | £3,000–£3,500 |
Key Draw Analysis and Storylines
Top Seeds
Gerwyn Price (1) is the top seed, having won four Players Championship titles in 2025. He opens against Max Hopp (64). Other top seeds include Wessel Nijman (2), who finished the season with a title, and Damon Heta (3).
Blockbuster Matchups (Round One)
The draw has produced several high-profile clashes immediately:
- Humphries vs. Van Veen: Defending champion Luke Humphries (58) faces recent European Champion Gian van Veen (7). Van Veen has won all three of their 2025 meetings.
- Littler's Debut: World Number One, Luke Littler (36), starts on the Main Stage against Jeffrey de Graaf (29).
- Veterans and Rivals: Other intriguing matches include Joe Cullen (14) vs. 2021 champion Peter Wright (51) and Krzysztof Ratajski (26) vs. five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld (39).
Potential Path to the Final
Humphries and Littler are placed on opposite sides of the draw, meaning they could potentially meet in the final.
Contender Form Guide
The Dominant Duo
- Luke Littler: Recently became the new World Number One after winning the Grand Slam of Darts. He is aiming for a sixth televised ranking title of the year.
- Luke Humphries: The defending champion remains a major force, but faces a massive test in the opening round against Gian van Veen.
Top Seeds/In-Form Players
- Gerwyn Price: Leads the ProTour rankings as the No. 1 seed with consistent ProTour success this season.
- Gian van Veen: The Dutchman is in excellent form, having won his maiden major title at the European Championship.
- Wessel Nijman: The second seed, demonstrating consistency after closing out the ProTour season with a title in the final floor event.
Current Betting Odds & Bonus Offers
Note: Betting odds are not yet updated at Stake.com. We will publish the odds once available. Stay touch with this article.
| Player | Odds (Fractional) |
|---|---|
| Luke Littler | |
| Luke Humphries | |
| Gerwyn Price | |
| Gian van Veen | |
| Josh Rock |
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Final Prediction and Closing Thoughts
The compressed schedule and best of 11 legs format in the opening rounds are notoriously difficult for high-ranking players, making this tournament highly prone to upsets. This fact is immediately evident in the draw, as the defending champion, Luke Humphries (58), has been handed a brutal opening match against European Champion Gian van Veen (7). Since Van Veen has defeated Humphries in all three of their 2025 meetings, the result of this match could dramatically open up the defending champion's quarter of the draw.
While Gerwyn Price (1) has shown tremendous ProTour consistency, securing four Players Championship titles this year, the form and confidence of the new World Number One are undeniable. Luke Littler is the player to beat in Minehead. He can score a lot of points and has amazing finishing power. He has tied the record of Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen by winning five televised ranking titles in one year, which solidifies his place at the top of the sport.
The Winner: Luke Littler
Despite the tough draw and the format's potential for upsets, Luke Littler’s incredible run of major titles and his recent ascension to World Number One make him the strongest pick. This victory would mark his sixth televised ranking title of the year.
The Players Championship Finals serve as the final major test before the World Championship. With the world rankings fresh and key contenders battling for pre-Christmas momentum, Minehead provides the last opportunity for players to prove their championship credentials before the spectacle at Alexandra Palace. The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the ProTour season, promising three days of high drama as the circuit reaches its explosive finale.
