Connor Scutt is not even currently a tour card holder and qualified for this event by virtue of topping the Challenge Tour Order of Merit in 2024. That feat in itself has ensured he’s regained his tour card holder status next year and he’s also qualified for the World Championship too. He’s been a four-time finalist on the Challenge Tour this year, winning twice but perhaps it’s his escapades on the Players Championship circuit and his performances at the WDF World Masters that best underline his ability to be competitive in this event. Dealing with the latter tournament first. He managed to reach the semi-finals of this prestigious event, succumbing 6-5 to Kai Gotthardt but it was his performances in the last 16 and quarter-finals where he produced eye-catching match averages of 106.71 and 110.44 respectively to breeze into the final four. Despite not being a current tour card holder he’s also participated in 23 of the 30 Players Championship Series of events and he’s been ultra-consistent. He’s reached three quarter-finals but more importantly finished runner-up to Gary Anderson in Players Championship 22, pushing him for a good proportion of this final and en route to this stage he dispatched the former UK Open Champion, Danny Noppert, and the in-form Cameron Menzies to name just two players he eliminated. His performances this year on that series mean he also comfortably secured a place in the 64-man Players Championship Finals field at the end of this month, finishing 34th on the Order of Merit. Averages wise his performance was even better, he averaged 94.72 across these matches, the 26th highest of all 159 players who were involved. He’s drawn in Group D which is one of the hardest groups to predict. Dave Chisnall is the seeded player but he’s inconsistent at times, Ross Smith hasn’t been playing at the heights we’ve become accustomed to from him in recent years and Ritchie Edhouse now has a target on his back after securing his maiden major title. All four players will fancy their chances of advancing to the last 16 at which point they will come up against those who qualify from Group C. The draw could have been a lot worse and really does present an opportunity where it could open up nicely for someone to go on a nice run and pick up some impetus to go deep in this event.

Group E is where we head next, and the Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena could follow up his run to the final of the European Championship by going a long way in this event. ‘Machine Gun’ as he is known due to his fast-paced throwing style has been impressive in 2024 and has really made a resurgence. He was once in the Top 20 in the world but has tailed off in recent years. His dedication and perseverance, however, have allowed him to find some form in 2024 and he arguably looks better than ever of late. Firstly, that run to the final of the European Championship in Dortmund at the end of October was no fluke. He defeated Peter Wright, James Wade, Luke Humphries and Danny Noppert, all high-quality players with an illustrious roll of honours to their name but it was the way that he dismantled World Champion and World Number One, ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Humphries that was the show stopper; he defeated him 10-4 with a ton-plus average and a game where his victory was never really in doubt. His recent form is really something to behold too. In his last 22 matches, he’s averaged 100+ in nine of them and has dished out four 6-0 whitewash victories, including against Chris Dobey and Peter Wright. Outside of this aforementioned European Championship, he’s also reached four quarter-finals this year. Three on the Euro Tour and one in a Players Championship event where it’s taken a stellar name to stop him, namely Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting and Kim Huybrechts. His seasonal average of 95.18 is very good and so is his match-win percentage of nigh on 62% and his draw gives him every chance to advance. The seed in his group is Michael Smith who has been underwhelming and is vulnerable. Mensur Suljovic, who has shown glimpses of the old ‘Mensur Magic’ is not the force he once was, so along with Grand Prix Champion Mike De Decker, the other player in Group E, they’ll believe they can come through and reach the knockout stages. Whilst on paper it looks likely the Runner-Up of this group will face Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler should he top Group F as expected, the shocks in recent tournaments suggest this shouldn’t be taken for granted though. Wattimena, in any case, is capable of topping this group and on recent form we'd fancy his chances against Dimitri Van Den Bergh, Keane Barry or Lourence Ilagan should they finish runner-up to the teenage sensation in Group F.

People may look at this selection and his draw and question why on earth he’s been included but write unfashionable Joyce off at your peril. Yes, his draw isn’t ideal. He’s in Group G alongside Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson who will be red-hot favourites to advance, but in a way that is why the man from Newcastle is available at the odds he is. Firstly, the Group Stage games are extremely short format matches. They are Best of Nine Legs/First to Five and any result is possible. Secondly, should Joyce defeat the other contestant in his group, Women's Series Qualifier, Noa-Lynn Van Leuven, the fact remains that should he pick up a victory over either of the other two blockbuster opponents we’ve already mentioned, that is likely to be enough for him to advance from a tough group, effectively eliminating one of the superstars of the sport. Joyce has a proven track record too. He’s twice a Players Championship event winner, the most recent coming in 2023 and he reached the final of Players Championship Nine earlier this year, finding Michael Smith too good in the final after defeating Raymond Van Barneveld, Dave Chisnall, Chris Dobey and Ritchie Edhouse in the four previous rounds. That run looks better and better the more you reflect upon it. He's also shown that he can produce it in the big, televised events. He was a PDC World Championship Quarter-Finalist in the 2019 event. His progress in that event was halted by eventual champion, Michael van Gerwen after success against James Wade in the previous round. During this event, he also secured an opening-round victory over Anastasia Dobromyslova, which further underlines his ability to hold his nerve against the women's qualifiers a tie that can often prove tricky for the most assured of throwers. That quarter-final adventure at the time was a bit of a shock and there’s no question that Joyce is an even better player now than he was then. This is backed up by his impressive run to the semi-finals of the Players Championship Finals at the back end of 2023, where the all-conquering Luke Humphries ended his hopes after he completed fine victories over Joe Cullen, Jermaine Wattimena and Damon Heta. One aspect of Joyce’s game that he’s always been renowned for is his finishing. His doubles percentage on stage this year is a remarkable 46.3% and coupled with his steady seasonal average of 94.18, he can upstage anyone on his day. Recent form suggests he’s in good order too. He came through the qualifier to earn a place in this event and a run that included a 5-1 triumph over the Aussie Damon Heta. In October alone he reached a quarter-final on the floor at Players Championship 28 and the semi-final of another major, the World Grand Prix. That latter event was particularly impressive as he dispatched Josh Rock, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross before succumbing to Luke Humphries. Rock is a potential opponent in the next round, so that is another positive bit of information to note for those wanting to take a chance on ‘Relentless’ living up to his name.