The tournament has been pretty nomadic since taking on its current guise in 2017 and arrives in Telford this year for the first time.
Just the top 16 on the one-year ranking list qualify for the big-money event, which means reigning champion Shaun Murphy will not be able to defend his title as he has not made it into the field.
There are other big names missing out as well, with the likes of Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson and world champion Luca Brecel having disappointing campaigns so far.
However, it is still a fantastic field with players of the season so far Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan leading the way.
There are standout contests in the opening round, with Ding Junhui vs John Higgins and Mark Williams vs Mark Allen notable in the last 16.
Gary Wilson heads to Telford immediately after winning the Welsh Open on Sunday night, taking on Hossein Vafaei in the first round.
Players Championship Draw and Schedule
The tournament runs from Monday 19 February until the final on Sunday 25 February.
Schedule
Monday 19 February
7pm
Judd Trump v Chris Wakelin
Ding Junhui v John Higgins
Tuesday 20 February
1pm
Mark Williams v Mark Allen
Gary Wilson v Hossein Vafaei
7pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Zhou Yuelong
Tom Ford v Ali Carter
Wednesday 21 February
1pm
Barry Hawkins v Mark Selby
Zhang Anda v Noppon Saengkham
Draw
Judd Trump v Chris Wakelin
Tom Ford v Ali Carter
Mark Williams v Mark Allen
Gary Wilson v Hossein Vafaei
Zhang Anda v Noppon Saengkham
Ding Junhui v John Higgins
Barry Hawkins v Mark Selby
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Zhou Yuelong
How to watch the Players Championship
ITV will be showing the live action on Table One on ITV4 and ITV3 – schedule here.
Table Two will be streamed on ITVX.
Players Championship prize money
Winner: £125,000
Runner-up: £50,000
Semi-final: £30,000
Quarter-final: £15,000
Last 16: £10,000
Highest break: £10,000
MORE : Gary Wilson adds to ‘mad few months’ by claiming Welsh Open title
MORE : Stephen Hendry and Mark Allen question Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters’ ‘fourth major’ status
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