Post GP and PC 31/32 thoughts

Well, there was one very good reason why I thought there might have been a touch of value in the underdogs in the semis. There's me forgetting that last year they upped the number of sets needed for the semis and the final by one. Oopsie. That doesn't change the metrics that much, maybe a couple of percent swing, but it would be enough for things to go from "might be the slightest edge there" to "lol no let's come back next weekend". Ended out what was a pretty boring event for me - the Littler quarter was fine but after round one was there a single good game in there? I don't think there was. Even their dream final, which while seeing a good chunk of competitive sets, ended up being a one sided romp. Still, it's in the bank, with the top 2 getting all the cake there's no crazy FRH moves, but there is some, this includes anything won in PC 31/32, but nothing in terms of minimum cash from the upcoming Euro Tour:

1 Luke Littler

2 Luke Humphries

3 Stephen Bunting (UP 2)

4 Jonny Clayton (UP 2)

5 Michael van Gerwen (DOWN 2)

6 James Wade (DOWN 2)

7 Josh Rock

8 Gerwyn Price

9 Danny Noppert (UP 2)

10 Chris Dobey (DOWN 1)

11 Ross Smith (DOWN 1)

12 Damon Heta

13 Gian van Veen

14 Mike de Decker (UP 1)

15 Gary Anderson (UP 1)

16 Martin Schindler (DOWN 2)

17 Jermaine Wattimena (UP 1)

18 Nathan Aspinall (UP 1)

19 Ryan Searle (NEW)

20 Rob Cross

Guy falling out is Chizzy who must be the odds on favourite for most disappointing season at this point in time. Clayton was briefly ahead of Bunting for what would surely have been a career high #3, but strong Pro Tours for the Bullet sees him there instead. Noppie goes up as expected, Schindi takes a knock after a first round major loss, otherwise mostly as you were.

In other news, Greaves making the world youth final was clearly big news, although certain outlets somewhat disrespecting her and ignoring she's a three times world champion already was kind of sad to see. Beating van Veen, which is certainly in the range of possible outcomes, would be a huge story for the sport and SHOULD be bigger news than Sherrock > Evetts was, but probably won't be. Wouldn't surprise me if that fast tracked her into some World Series events. Well, maybe not the first two.

Cam Crabtree grabbed the Slam spot. This one feels a spot underwhelming. Obv the Dev Tour nerfed how good a player it could get by limiting who can play in it, but I think there's a few names in the top 10 who'd be more exciting for sure. He's not bad and I'm not saying that, his numbers are fine, but over the last year they're only a hundredth of a point better per turn than Chisnall and nobody would be excited about watching him right now, Hopefully Jamai can have a worlds spot fall to him through the rankigns but it seems dependent on results elsewhere, Bates being near the main worlds cutoff seemingly being the important one.

Half the remaining Pro Tours for the year got done this week. Good win for Wattimena who seems at the peak of his powers right now. Littler winning the other is neither here nor there (although I think he needed some money to secure Minehead), Littler losing first round to Edhouse in the other one was an oddity, but whoever had Dennie Olde Kalter finalist on their bingo card a couple of months ago was a brave man.

That'll be it for now, there is a Euro Tour draw out. Thoughts on that later, it's the last one before the Euros, there's a few spots on the line but it doesn't look that interesting a chase, it basically comes down to if Chizzy beats (probably) Clemens, which is nowhere near the worst draw he could have got but despite Clemens maybe having as quiet a year as he's had is no gimmie.