By Alex Moss
26 DECEMBER 2016 • 9:05AM
As we head into the final week’s play at the William Hill World Darts Championship, there are now just three spaces left to be decided for the 2017 Unibet Masters.
The top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit following the conclusion of the World Championship, on January 2, will contest the Unibet Masters on January 27-29, 2017.
Looking at the provisional PDC Order of Merit, following day nine of the World Championship, there is set to be three changes from last year’s line-up.
Vincent van der Voort and Terry Jenkins have both dropped out of the top 16 this year, while Stephen Bunting, who was defending prize money from a run to the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Championship, slumped to a first round exit and can no longer qualify.
Benito van de Pas (14th) and Mensur Suljovic (eighth) are both in line to make their debuts in the invitational tournament next month, while Simon Whitlock (16th) is set to return after missing the 2016 event.
Van de Pas and Whitlock, along with Raymond van Barneveld (15th) are the only players who can still be caught, but it would require several players to have big runs at Alexandra Palace.
Alan Norris must reach at least the quarter-finals, Daryl Gurney, Mark Webster and Brendan Dolan would all need to get to the semi-finals at least, while a run to the final for Steve Beaton or Jamie Lewis could also bump them into the top 16.
Provisional PDC Order of Merit (as of 26 December, 2016)
1st – Michael van Gerwen – £1,499,000*
2nd – Gary Anderson – £605,500*
3rd – Peter Wright – £449,250*
4th – Adrian Lewis – £426,500*
5th – James Wade – £371,750*
6th – Phil Taylor – £339,750*
7th – Dave Chisnall – £333,500*
8th – Mensur Suljovic – £324,250*
9th – Jelle Klaasen – £301,500*
10th – Michael Smith – £290,250*
11th – Robert Thornton – £283,750*
12th – Kim Huybrechts – £263,000*
13th – Ian White – £263,000*
14th – Benito van de Pas – £251,500*
15th – Raymond van Barneveld – £236,500*
16th – Simon Whitlock – £208,750
———————————————
17th – Terry Jenkins – £197,500
18th – Alan Norris – £190,750*
19th – Stephen Bunting – £185,250
20th – Gerwyn Price – £182,000
21st – Mervyn King – £171,750
22nd – Daryl Gurney – £158,750*
23rd – Brendan Dolan – £156,750*
24th – Mark Webster – £154,500*
25th – Vincent van der Voort – £153,750
26th – Justin Pipe – £143,000
27th – Steve Beaton – £141,250
28th – Joe Cullen – £132,000
29th – Jamie Caven – £120,000
30th – Kyle Anderson – £118,750
31st – Jamie Lewis – £113,250*
32nd – Darren Webster – £107,250*
*player is still in the World Championship
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