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Some players will need to step up their game if they want to qualify.

European Championship qualification implications at 2025 German Darts Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Just 32 spots are up for grabs at the 2025 European Championship.

Those 32 qualifiers are based on a separate order of merit, determined by the prize money they have accumulated at Euro Tour events in 2025.

The German Darts Championship is the last event before the European Championship the following week, giving us a good idea of who is in/out and who needs to make up/defend ground.

Players under the most pressure at the German Darts Championship

Let's dive into what players need to have a big weekend.

MORE: Who is playing at the 2025 German Darts Championship?

Krzysztof Ratajski

Ratajski will be the player to chase this weekend, and probably one of the most vulnerable players.

He's unseeded this weekend, so he'll have some work to do if he wants to guarantee his safety.

Players like Dave Chisnall have a leg up on their opponents since he has a bye into the second round.

Andrew Gilding

Gilding is £1,500 clear of the first player out of a qualifying spot.

He'd feel comfortable with at least one win this weekend, although he'll have a shot to make it even if he doesn't win in the first round.

He currently possesses the second-to-last spot on the 32-player qualifier list.

MORE: 2025 German Darts Championship: Draw, schedule, prize money and format

Rob Cross

Cross is pretty much the last player currently in the top-32 that's in any sort of 'real' danger when it comes to failing to qualify.

He has the security of two players behind him as well as a bye into the second round, but it can get ugly if he doesn't win his opening game.

He's £4,000 clear of the highest non-qualified player playing this weekend (since Edhouse in 33rd isn't competing this weekend), so it would take a poor performance and a lot of bad luck for him to fall out of the top 32.

Dave Chisnall

'Chizzy' is one of the highest-ranked players on the Main OoM in danger of not making it to Dortmund.

He sits at #34 on the Euro Tour OoM, meaning he'll have to pass a couple of players to get in.

Luckily for him, Ritchie Edhouse, currently 33rd on the ET OoM, isn't playing this weekend, so his prize money won't be changed this weekend.

For Chisnall to have the best shot of making it, advancing to at least the third round should be his goal.

He has a bye into the second round, which helps, but he'll need to capitalize on the chance to try and pass other players looking to defend/sneak into the seeding.

MORE: Predicting the PDC 2026 Premier League of Darts lineup

Joe Cullen

2025 has been a very rough year for 'The Rockstar', but he's had some recent bright spots that show he may have another miracle in him.

We've already seen him make significant last-minute strides to qualify for the World Series of Darts Finals and the World Grand Prix, two tournaments he had to work hard for at qualifier/Pro Tour events to make.

He sits 35th on the ET OoM right now, £3,500 behind Ratajski for the last spot.

Cullen has had some poor performances at Euro Tour events this year, so he'll need a year-best Euro Tour event campaign to make it to Dortmund.

He should be eyeing the quarterfinals as a goal for the tournament to have a shot at qualifying.

William O'Connor

O'Connor has had his moments this year where he's looked to be someone who can make serious noise, but he hasn't put together consistent campaigns to give himself the right opportunities.

He qualified for this weekend's tournament through a tour-card holder qualifier event, giving him one last chance to try and get into a qualifying position for next weekend.

He comes into the event £4,250 behind the current last qualifying spot, meaning he'll need around a quarterfinal/semifinal round run to play at the European Championship.

Niels Zonneveld

Zonneveld is fresh off a semifinal appearance at Players Championship 31 this week, but it will require another miracle run to make it to Dortmund.

He sits £13,500 behind the current #32, so his only shot would be winning the event this weekend.

He's had his fair share of late tournament runs in Pro Tour events in the last couple of years, so you never know, although it's highly unlikely.

A couple of other players have similar outside shots this weekend if they win the event, including notable players like Callan Rydz.

European Championship qualification implications at 2025 German Darts Championship