Players Championship Finals 2025 Day Two Preview – Huge Ties on Main Stage and Stage Two

After a dramatic opening day at Butlin’s Minehead, the 2025 Players Championship Finals heads into Day Two with some blockbuster second-round ties on both the Main Stage and Stage Two.

Defending champion Luke Humphries is already out, Luke Littler has begun his campaign with a ruthless display, and a host of outsiders have muscled their way into the conversation. With the bracket tightening and last-16 spots on the line, Saturday’s afternoon session feels like a pivotal point in the tournament.

Main Stage Headlines: Littler, Price, Wright, Van Veen All in Action

The Main Stage schedule is stacked from the very first dart. All eight ties carry real weight in the draw, with several potential title contenders meeting much earlier than they would have liked.

Ross Smith v Luke Littler – Box Office Clash

Ross Smith v Luke Littler has the look of a TV main event and could easily be one of the matches of the day. Smith’s heavy scoring and experience on the floor collide with Littler’s explosive, big-stage game.

Littler opened the tournament with a 6–1 demolition of Jeffrey de Graaf, averaging around the 104 mark, and already looks every bit the favourite he was billed as. Smith brushed aside Ryan Meikle on Day One and will feel he has the scoring power to live with Littler, but if the teenager settles early the pressure on Smith’s doubles will be intense.

The winner of this tie is on a dangerous path in the bracket, with a potential last-16 meeting against either Ricardo Pietreczko or Gary Anderson waiting in the evening session.

Gerwyn Price v Sebastian Bialecki – Seed v Giant-Killer

Top seed Gerwyn Price stays on the Main Stage as he faces Sebastian Bialecki, who produced one of the shocks of the first round by dumping out Rob Cross.

Price was solid rather than spectacular in his 6–2 win over Max Hopp, but he’ll likely need an extra gear against Bialecki. The young Pole was clinical on scoring and produced a huge 154 checkout in round one; if he reproduces that composure on the outer ring, Price could be in a real battle.

The winner here moves into a potential last-16 clash with either Martin Schindler or Nick Kenny, so this match goes a long way to deciding the shape of Section 1 of the top half.

Peter Wright v James Wade – Two Former Champions Collide

One of the most intriguing ties of Day Two sees Peter Wright take on James Wade on the Main Stage.

Wright looked composed in his opening win over Joe Cullen, while Wade did what Wade always does, controlled the pace, hit 50% of his doubles and saw off Mickey Mansell 6–3. This feels like a pure battle of styles: Snakebite’s scoring bursts versus Wade’s relentless percentage game.

There’s added spice in the bracket too. The winner of Wright v Wade is likely to face either Justin Hood or Andrew Gilding for a place in the quarter-finals, so both know that a deep run is very much on the table if they can get through this test.

Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski – Can Van Veen Stay Red-Hot?

Gian van Veen arrives on Day Two as one of the stories of the tournament after once again beating Luke Humphries – his fourth victory over the former world champion in 2025.

The Dutchman now faces Krzysztof Ratajski in another dangerous Main Stage tie. Ratajski brings experience and a methodical style that can disrupt rhythm, but van Veen’s scoring bursts and fearless temperament make him favourite on current form.

The winner is set on a collision course with either Josh Rock or Scott Williams, meaning this entire mini-section of the bracket is packed with emerging talent.

Bunting, Aspinall and Rock Also in Main Stage Action

The rest of the Main Stage schedule is equally loaded:

• Stephen Bunting v Daryl Gurney – Bunting comes in off a comfortable win over Ritchie Edhouse, but Gurney’s gritty round-one display makes this a genuine 50/50.
• Richard Veenstra v Nathan Aspinall – Aspinall looked sharp against Karel Sedláček, yet Veenstra has the scoring game to push him all the way.
• Josh Rock v Scott Williams – two sablemates go head-to-head in a match that could be a treble-hitting clinic.

All of these ties feed directly into tightly packed bracket sections, so one big performance on Saturday afternoon could transform someone’s weekend prospects.

Stage Two: Danger Men and Dark Horses

While the Main Stage carries the TV spotlight, the Stage Two board might be where some of the most dramatic stories of Day Two unfold. Several players who impressed on Day One return looking to build momentum and force their way into the last-16 conversation.

James Hurrell v Luke Woodhouse – Form Clash After Big Wins

James Hurrell produced one of the performances of the first round by beating Jonny Clayton with a near-100 average. He now faces Luke Woodhouse, who himself came through strongly against Alan Soutar.

With both players full of confidence, this Stage Two tie has the feel of a shoot-out for a surprise last-16 berth. Whoever comes through could later run into the winner of Chris Dobey v Cam Crabtree, adding to the sense that this section is wide open.

Ricardo Pietreczko v Gary Anderson – Crowd Favourite on the Side Board

Gary Anderson remains on Stage Two for his second-round clash with Ricardo Pietreczko. Anderson’s round-one win over Mario Vandenbogaerde was smooth and controlled, while Pietreczko impressed in seeing off William O’Connor.

The winner of this match will meet either Ross Smith or Luke Littler in the evening, so this is a crucial stepping stone for anyone with designs on the semi-finals from this half of the draw.

Danny Noppert v Madars Razma – Noppert Looking Like a Real Contender

Danny Noppert posted one of the highest averages of the first round (over 103) and lit up the stage with a 164 checkout against Ricky Evans. His Stage Two tie with Madars Razma will be watched closely by anyone tracking a potential outsider for the title.

Win here, and Noppert will move into a third-round match against the victor of Richard Veenstra v Nathan Aspinall, which sets up a brutally competitive quarter of the draw.

Dobey, Searle, Wattimena and Others Hunt Last-16 Spots

Some of the most in-form Pro Tour performers are also in action on Stage Two:

• Chris Dobey v Cam Crabtree – Dobey was ruthless in his win over Keane Barry, but Crabtree showed huge bottle to edge Mike De Decker in a last-leg decider.
• Ryan Searle v Callan Rydz – both posted strong opening displays; this feels like a pure power-scoring contest.
• Jermaine Wattimena v Ryan Joyce – Wattimena was excellent against Wesley Plaisier, while Joyce eliminated Dave Chisnall. The winner will fancy their chances of reaching the last eight.
• Justin Hood v Andrew Gilding – Hood’s underdog story continues against the experienced Gilding in a match that feeds into the Wright/Wade quarter of the draw.
• Adam Lipscombe v Bradley Brooks – Lipscombe’s debut demolition of Cameron Menzies was one of Day One’s big talking points, but Brooks was equally impressive in seeing off Martin Lukeman.
• Martin Schindler v Nick Kenny – Schindler ground out a win over Michael Smith and will be eager to test himself against Price or Bialecki later in the day.

What To Watch Out For On Day Two Of The Players Championship Finals

• Is Luke Littler on an unstoppable march to the title? A strong showing against Ross Smith followed by a possible clash with Gary Anderson or Ricardo Pietreczko would answer that question quickly.
• Can Gian van Veen keep his incredible 2025 run going? A win over Krzysztof Ratajski keeps him on course for a quarter-final against either Noppert, Aspinall or Veenstra.
• Will the proven major winners – Price, Wright, Anderson, Wade – reassert control of the draw?
• Which Stage Two outsider will crash the last-16 party? Players like Hurrell, Lipscombe, Crabtree and Brooks all have genuine chances to extend their runs.

With second-round ties on Saturday afternoon feeding directly into evening third-round matches, Day Two at Minehead is set to be fast-paced, high-pressure and potentially decisive in shaping the final day line-up.

Day Two Fixture List – Round Two (Saturday November 22, Afternoon Session – 12:45 GMT)

Main Stage

• Stephen Bunting v Daryl Gurney
• Peter Wright v James Wade
• Richard Veenstra v Nathan Aspinall
• Gerwyn Price v Sebastian Bialecki
• Ross Smith v Luke Littler
• Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski
• Josh Rock v Scott Williams

Stage Two

• James Hurrell v Luke Woodhouse
• Adam Lipscombe v Bradley Brooks
• Ryan Searle v Callan Rydz
• Jermaine Wattimena v Ryan Joyce
• Martin Schindler v Nick Kenny
• Ricardo Pietreczko v Gary Anderson
• Justin Hood v Andrew Gilding
• Chris Dobey v Cam Crabtree
• Danny Noppert v Madars Razma