Rock and Wright join Littler as shock non-starters for Players Championship

JOSH ROCK and Peter Wright joined World Champion Luke Littler on the Minehead sidelines after coming up short in the race for the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals.

But there was good news for Gary Anderson and ex-Grand Prix champ Mike De Decker as that duo were confirmed amongst the field for the showpiece at the end of this month.

Rock and Wright were two of the biggest names to miss out having failed to secure the necessary results over the final two days of qualifying at Leicester's Mattioli Arena.

The Northern Irish star needed to make the Final of Players Championship 34 to keep alive his hopes, but was defeated at the final 64 stage by Harry Ward.

Wright will also be absent from the big event having lost out early on the final day to Carl Sneyd and finishing 92nd on the Order of Merit.

Anderson's run to the semi-finals on Wednesday in Leicester virtually ensured his Minehead spot before Thursday even started, but the Scot's position was cemented, while De Decker finished up in 63rd position to also qualify.

Wesley Plaisier suffered the anguish of ending up the highest on the rankings to miss out in 65th place on the ladder with a final day loss to Cameron Menzies sealing his fate.

Images by Taylor Lanning.