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With the Grand Slam of Darts having a unique qualifying format, some great players are bound to end up not playing at one of the biggest majors of the year.
Unlike a majority of other majors with limited qualifying spots, the Grand Slam of Darts rules allow some players to qualify for the event that we would likely not see qualify for events like the World Grand Prix, World Matchplay, etc.
What notable players won't be at the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts?
The list consists of a wide range of players, from past winners and finalists to regulars that we won't see for the first time in a while.
MORE: 2025 Grand Slam of Darts: Draw, schedule, groups, prize money and format explained
Rob Cross
Less than six months ago, Cross was in the Premier League. To imagine he wouldn't be in the Grand Slam half a year later is something I'm sure would have sounded foreign to him at the time.
Not qualifying this year will end his eight-year streak of playing in the tournament.
That in itself has to be disappointing for Cross, but the more important issue is that he will lose £70,000 off his ranking money since he was a finalist in the event back in 2023.
Ross Smith
Smith has become more consistent on the Pro Tour in the past two years, but still hasn't found success at the same rate at TV majors.
He could have qualified had he converted on some of the early opportunities he had on the Euro Tour this year, as players can qualify if they win a Euro Tour event title.
He'll now shift his attention to preparing for both the Players Championship Finals and the World Championship.
Mike De Decker
De Decker won't be in too much trouble regarding defending money, since he didn't play in the event in 2023.
He'll still see it as a missed opportunity, as he's been below average in tournaments since his World Grand Prix title last year.
MORE: 2025 Grand Slam of Darts qualifiers: Littler, Humphries headline field
Dave Chisnall
Chisnall is a regular at PDC majors, but will be missing the Grand Slam for the 4th time in 16 years.
Despite numerous final, semifinal and quarterfinal appearances in a decade-plus career, Chisnall has still not claimed a major title.
He'll have to wait a bit longer for the Players Championship Finals to get another shot at one.
Jermaine Wattimena
Wattimena's form has been sharp in 2025, leading to some well-earned accolades, so I'm sure he can't be too upset with missing this event.
He's inching towards the top 20 on the Main OoM, after finishing 2024 as the #36-ranked player in the world.
He did miss qualifying by just one leg, in a qualifying match against GSoD qualifier Lukas Wenig, so that does have to sting at least a little bit.
MORE: Predicting when Luke Littler will overtake Luke Humphries as world number one in darts
Dimitri Van den Bergh
Van den Bergh tried to make the event through the TCH qualifier, but failed to do so.
In 2025, he will have failed to qualify/play in the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals.
He's dropped over 10 spots in the rankings since finishing 11th on the Main OoM last year. A lot of that has to do with taking a break and a step back from darts.
Additional players who didn't qualify
- Cameron Menzies (2024 quarterfinalist)
- Dirk van Duijvenbode (Three career event appearances)
- Peter Wright (3x runner-up)
- Joe Cullen (2022 quarterfinalist)
- Raymond van Barneveld (2012 champion)
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