Dirk van Duijvenbode heads into July’s Leicester double-header with his World Matchplay position more exposed than the headline ranking suggests.
The latest World Matchplay Race, updated after ET9, places Van Duijvenbode 28th on £351,500, level with Dave Chisnall and just £5,250 clear of Cameron Menzies. The same table lists the cut-off as July 8, leaving Players Championships 23 and 24 as the decisive final ranking swing.
That matters because the qualification route is split: the top 16 on the main Order of Merit qualify as seeds, then the leading 16 not already in from the ProTour Order of Merit complete the Blackpool field. Van Duijvenbode is 25th on the ProTour list, so he is not simply protecting one number.
Why Leicester Now Carries Extra Weight
The PDPA calendar lists PC23 and PC24 for Leicester on July 6 and July 7, with the entry deadline falling on Monday, June 29 at 2pm GMT. For players around the line, that turns the week into a selection audit as much as a form check.
Van Duijvenbode has already shown the ceiling is still there, landing perfection at Players Championship 13, but Blackpool now depends on the floor. A quiet Leicester run would invite renewed pressure from Menzies, Joe Cullen, Ritchie Edhouse, Michael Smith and Peter Wright.
For context, read our earlier look at Dave Chisnall’s World Matchplay streak pressure.
