, ▁just ▁like ▁last ▁year , ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁were ▁thr ashed ▁ 4 – 0 . ▁Mans ell ▁qualified ▁for ▁four ▁European ▁Tour ▁events ▁and ▁was ▁knock ed ▁out ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁in ▁all ▁of ▁them . ▁ ▁Mans ell ' s ▁four ▁World ▁Cup ▁appearances ▁in ▁a ▁row ▁ended ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁after ▁D ary l ▁G ur ney ▁over to ok ▁him ▁as ▁Northern ▁Ireland ' s ▁second ▁highest ▁player ▁on ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it , ▁behind ▁Br end an ▁Dol an . ▁Three ▁last ▁ 3 2 ▁and ▁three ▁last ▁ 1 6 ▁ex its ▁saw ▁him ▁qual ify ▁for ▁the ▁expanded ▁Play ers ▁Championship ▁Final s ▁and ▁he ▁lost ▁ 6 – 3 ▁to ▁Kim ▁H uy bre chts ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁round . ▁Mans ell ▁dropped ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁top ▁ 6 4 ▁during ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁and ▁so ▁played ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁Q ▁School , ▁where ▁he ▁finished ▁sixth ▁on ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it ▁to ▁rec laim ▁his ▁P DC ▁place . ▁ ▁World ▁Championship ▁results ▁ ▁P DC ▁▁▁ 2 0 1 1 : ▁Pre lim inary ▁round ▁( lost ▁to ▁Pr eston ▁R idd ▁ 0 – 4 ) ▁( leg s ) ▁▁ 2 0 1 3 : ▁First ▁round ▁( lost ▁to ▁Phil ▁Taylor ▁ 0 – 3 ) ▁▁▁ 2 0 1 5 : ▁First ▁round ▁( lost ▁to ▁Kim ▁H uy bre chts ▁ 0 – 3 ) ▁▁ 2