Former world champion Michael Smith will miss the World Grand Prix for the first time in 13 years.

Absence of High-profile Players at the World Grand Prix

According to The Sun: This year, the prestigious World Grand Prix tournament will be without one of its prominent players — the former world champion who for the first time has failed to qualify for participation.

Michael Smith, 34, who has regularly participated in these competitions since 2012, has missed out on the tournament due to his 21st place in the PDC merit order and 34th in the Pro Tour.

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The 2025 season has proven challenging for Smith. He has suffered injuries and has been unable to win any competitions at PDC tournaments. His last victory came in May 2024, winning Players Championship 9.

Smith has arthritis issues in his right wrist, a result of an injury he sustained at 19. Additionally, he suffers from a shoulder injury which prevents him from earning enough prize money to secure a place in the top 16 of the world rankings.

Absence of Another Player

Not only Smith will miss the tournament – another regular participant, Dimitri van den Bergh, is also absent. He has decided to focus on his personal life and confirmed he is feeling burnt out due to the demanding competition schedule.

Against this backdrop, he is skipping several tournaments and now occupies 98th place in the world Pro Tour rankings.

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Moreover, he wants to spend more time with his family after the birth of his second daughter in July. This will be the first time he skips a tournament since 2019.

Thus, the absence of Michael Smith and Dimitri van den Bergh at the World Grand Prix not only highlights their personal struggles but will also affect the overall level of the tournament. While these well-known players resolve their issues, other participants gain the opportunity to showcase their skills and perhaps rise in the world rankings.