Former World Champion Bob Anderson will grace the big stage at the 2006 SkyBet World Grand Prix in Dublin…..but only just! The top 24 in the world qualify automatically for the tournament on the Emerald Isle during the last week in October – and Anderson sneaks in at No.24 – edging out Steve Maish by just three world ranking points! But Unicorn new boy Andrew Hamilton will have to qualify later this month, as more than 160 stars – including Raymond Van Barneveld – head to Newport to battle it out for only four qualifying spots. Hamilton has reached No.28 in the world and he is hoping this is the last ‘Major’ he will be forced to qualify for…..remember, he qualified for the World Matchplay and reached the semi-finals, before losing an epic to Phil Taylor. In the latest World Rankings, published after last weekend’s Ireland Open Classic, James Wade has climbed to No.16 in the world, John Part is now No.17, Wes Newton 21 but the real fun is at the top end of the ladder! It’s all on in the race to be in the top six in the world by the end of the Grand Prix in Dublin….that will guarantee a place in the lucrative 2007 Holsten Premier League. Peter Manley has dropped to 5th but Kevin Painter’s run to the final in Ireland last weekend has lifted him back up to No.8 in the world…and don’t write off Adrian Lewis just yet because the Unicorn Contender is currently 11th – only 22 points off that precious 6th spot. The Unicorn duo of Colin Lloyd and Phil Taylor remain the top two in the World. Latest PDC rankings: 1) Colin Lloyd – 572 points 2) Phil Taylor – 525 3) Ronnie Baxter – 457 4) Wayne Mardle – 436 5) Peter Manley – 430 6) Dennis Priestley – 424 7) Roland Scholten – 423 8) Kevin Painter – 412 9) Andy Jenkins – 406 10) Terry Jenkins – 406 11) Adrian Lewis – 402 12) Mark Dudbridge – 393 13) Chris Mason – 391 14) Denis Ovens – 387 15) Mark Walsh – 375 16) James Wade – 334 17) John Part – 331 18) Alan Warriner – 319 19) Andy Smith – 296 20) Lionel Sams – 295 21) Wes Newton – 294 22) Dave Askew – 293 23) Barrie Bates – 284 24) Bob Anderson – 279 25) Steve Maish – 276 26) Matt Clark – 268 27) Steve Beaton – 267 28) Andrew Hamilton – 263 29) Dennis Smith – 260 30) Colin Monk – 253 31) Alex Roy – 252 32) Wayne Jones – 250 Selected others: 36) Colin Osborne 38) Keith Deller 45) Michael Barnard 49) Raymond Van Barneveld 100) Ray Carver BY STUART PYKE
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