When will Double Gameweek 33 + Blank Gameweek 34 be finalised?

Millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are currently formulating chip strategies that they probably won’t finalise until there’s full knowledge of both Double Gameweek 33 (if it is to be a double) and Blank Gameweek 34.

The FA Cup fifth-round action edged us closer to knowing all about the big blank – but the full picture may not be known for another month or so.

BLANK GAMEWEEK 34

Brighton v Chelsea team news: Pedro a sub, Nkunku starts 2

Blank Gameweek 34 clashes with FA Cup semi-final weekend.

There are four Premier League matches where both teams have already been knocked out.

GAMEWEEK 34 MATCHES GOING AHEAD: CONFIRMED

Chelsea v Everton
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United v Ipswich Town
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City

ONE TEAM STILL IN THE FA CUP

(these are bolded)

Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Brighton and Hove Albion v West Ham United
Nottingham Forest v Brentford
Southampton v Fulham
Bournemouth v Manchester United

BOTH TEAMS STILL IN THE FA CUP

Manchester City v Aston Villa

We’ll know all about the other blanks after the quarter-finals, which take place just before Gameweek 30.

GW34 Premier League fixture	Status	The match will be postponed in the following situation:
Arsenal v Crystal Palace	Possible postponement	If Crystal Palace beat Fulham (a) in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Bournemouth v Manchester United	Possible postponement	If Bournemouth beat Manchester City (h) in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Brighton and Hove Albion v West Ham United	Possible postponement	If Brighton and Hove Albion beat Nottingham Forest (h) in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Chelsea v Everton	On
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur	On
Manchester City v Aston Villa	Possible postponement	If Manchester City beat Bournemouth (a) in the FA Cup quarter-finals and/or Aston Villa beat Preston North End (a) in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Newcastle United v Ipswich Town	On
Nottingham Forest v Brentford	Possible postponement	If Nottingham Forest beat Brighton and Hove Albion (a) in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Southampton v Fulham	Possible postponement	If Fulham beat Crystal Palace (h) in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City	On

Maximum number of postponed matches: 4
Minimum number of postponed matches: 3

Many FPL managers plan to Free Hit in this big blank. Yet if numerous ‘template’ players suddenly become available for that weekend, it could also be navigated without a chip.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 33

It’s the current assumption – but far from a given – that the postponed Gameweek 34 matches will move to Gameweek 33. This would form 2024/25’s largest double to date. Doubles being announced in Gameweeks 25 and 32 were previous curveballs that the Premier League threw at us, so we can’t rule out something unexpected again.

We also can’t assume that we will have confirmation of Double Gameweek 33 by Gameweek 30.

The midweek Gameweek 30 deadline comes just a few days after the FA Cup quarter-finals, not giving much time to rearrange with all relevant parties.

Of course, clubs could already be working with the Premier League to prepare for this scenario, ready to act quickly.

But it’s safer to believe that announcements will instead be made by Gameweek 31 when there’s still a two-and-a-half-week notice for supporters.

Within the Fantasy community, Gameweeks 30 to 32 is set to be a popular time for Wildcard usage. The latter gives more time to digest fixture information and is closer to a potential Double Gameweek 33 Bench Boost, meaning more accurate decisions can be made on fit, in-favour players.