Robert Thornton faces a nervous wait today to see if he will get a reprieve and a place in next month’s Unibet World Grand Prix – just two years after lifting the major in Dublin.

The 2015 champion sits in 17th place on the PDC Order of Merit following the conclusion of the HappyBet German Darts Grand Prix in Mannheim yesterday.

The European Tour event was the last tournament before the cut off for the World Grand Prix, which takes place on October 1-7, with the field made up of the top 16 players on the Order of Merit as well as the next top 16 players on the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Thornton’s hopes of qualifying now rest on 11-time World Grand Prix champion Phil Taylor who, if rumours which spread over the weekend are correct, will be skipping the tournament in Ireland in his final year on the professional circuit.

The 32-player field is expected to be finalised by the PDC today, when we will find out if indeed Taylor is missing the World Grand Prix and if Thornton has earned a reprieve into the tournament.

Provisional 2017 World Grand Prix line-up

Top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit

1. Michael van Gerwen

2. Gary Anderson

3. Peter Wright

4. Phil Taylor

5. Adrian Lewis

6. Dave Chisnall

7. Mensur Suljovic

8. Michael Smith

9. Raymond van Barneveld

10. Jelle Klaasen

11. James Wade

12. Daryl Gurney

13. Kim Huybrechts

14. Ian White

15. Benito van de Pas

16. Simon Whitlock

Next Top 16 on the Pro Tour Order of Merit

1. Rob Cross

2. Alan Norris

3. Joe Cullen

4. Mervyn King

5. Gerwyn Price

6. Steve Beaton

7. Kyle Anderson

8. Cristo Reyes

9. Darren Webster

10. Stephen Bunting

11. Christian Kist

12. John Henderson

13. Justin Pipe

14. Steve West

15. Richard North

16. Ronny Huybrechts