ONLY two Players Championships remain before the 32-player field for next month's World Matchplay is known.
Following the weekend's two Players Championships in Barnsley, only the forthcoming double-header in Nuland on June 18 & 19 will be played before the qualifiers to compete in Blackpool are confirmed.
The top 16 from the PDC's Order of Merit as at July 1 will qualify by right to compete in the World Matchplay from July 16-24, alongside the top 16 non-qualified players from the Players Championship Order of Merit.
Wayne Jones - a quarter-finalist last year in Blackpool - currently holds the provisional 16th place in the Order of Merit, but is just £464 ahead of Andy Hamilton going into the Nuland weekend.
However, both players would also be amongst the 16 Players Championship qualifiers at present following their PDC ProTour performances this year.
The Players Championship qualifiers are headed by John Part, who has won two events this year, while Justin Pipe, Dave Chisnall, Mark Hylton, John Henderson and Scott Rand are all in line for a World Matchplay debut.
Three players, Colin Osborne, Magnus Caris and Antonio Alcinas, are tied for the 15th and 16th qualifying places at present, with Steve Beaton, William O'Connor, Co Stompe and Robert Thornton within touching distance.
Any tie for places would be determined on a countback of prize money won in the previous four events (in Barnsley and Nuland), with Osborne and Caris currently ahead of Spanish ace Alcinas.
The draw for the World Matchplay is expected to be made on Sunday June 19 at the conclusion of the Players Championship in Nuland.
The 2011 World Matchplay will be held from July 16-24 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Tickets for some sessions are still available in person from the Winter Gardens Box Office or via Ticketmaster on 0844 856 11 11.
Click here for the latest World Matchplay ticket information
Provisional PDC Order of Merit Top 16
(as at July 1 2011 with prize money being defended until July 1 removed)
| Pos | Name | Prize Money |
| 1 | Phil Taylor | £904,200 |
| 2 | Adrian Lewis | £395,250 |
| 3 | James Wade | £311,742 |
| 4 | Gary Anderson | £297,050 |
| 5 | Simon Whitlock | £243,750 |
| 6 | Raymond van Barneveld | £233,700 |
| 7 | Terry Jenkins | £223,220 |
| 8 | Wes Newton | £204,639 |
| 9 | Mervyn King | £177,850 |
| 10 | Mark Webster | £173,942 |
| 11 | Paul Nicholson | £160,421 |
| 12 | Ronnie Baxter | £156,242 |
| 13 | Colin Lloyd | £153,985 |
| 14 | Mark Walsh | £150,942 |
| 15 | Vincent van der Voort | £144,000 |
| 16 | Wayne Jones | £142,500 |
| - | - | - |
| 17 | Andy Hamilton | £142,036 |
Current Players Championship Order of Merit Qualifiers
| Pos | Name | Prize Money |
| 1 | John Part | £17,800 |
| 2 | Jamie Caven | £10,600 |
| 3 | Andy Smith | £10,400 |
| 4 | Justin Pipe | £9,600 |
| 5 | Dave Chisnall | £8,800 |
| 6 | Denis Ovens | £7,800 |
| 7 | Alan Tabern | £7,600 |
| 8 | Mark Hylton | £7,200 |
| 9 | Peter Wright | £7,200 |
| 10 | Steve Brown | £7,000 |
| 11 | John Henderson | £6,600 |
| 12 | Scott Rand | £6,200 |
| 13 | Kevin Painter | £5,400 |
| 14 | Andy Hamilton | £4,800 |
| 15 | Colin Osborne | £4,200 |
| 16 | Magnus Caris | £4,200 |
| - | - | - |
| 17 | Antonio Alcinas | £4,200 |
| 18 | Steve Beaton | £3,600 |
| 19 | William O'Connor | £3,600 |
| 20 | Co Stompe | £3,600 |
| 21 | Robert Thornton | £3,400 |
The 2011 World Matchplay will be held from July 16-24 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Tickets for some sessions are still available in person from the Winter Gardens Box Office or via Ticketmaster on 0844 856 11 11.
Click here for the latest World Matchplay ticket information