Check out the PDC calendar for July here: all eyes on the World Matchplay in Blackpool

While summer may have arrived, there's no let-up on the PDC circuit this July. As ever, the standout event is the World Matchplay, the most prestigious ranking tournament of the season outside the World Darts Championship.

Leading up to Blackpool, players have ample opportunities to sharpen their form with two Players Championship events and a European Tour stop. Additionally, several international circuits resume, and two more floor tournaments round out a packed month.

The month begins in Gliwice with the Poland Darts Masters, the fifth World Series event of the year. As is tradition, eight PDC stars face off against eight local qualifiers in the opening round.

Although Luke Humphries will not be in attendance, fans can still look forward to appearances from Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, and Stephen Bunting.

Van Gerwen lifted the inaugural title in 2023, defeating Dimitri Van den Bergh, but fell to Rob Cross in last year's semi-finals. Cross, in turn, was stopped by Luke Littler, who claimed the crown on his Poland debut.

The PDC Asian Tour heads to Singapore, home of darts legend Paul Lim. "The Singapore Slinger" will aim to solidify his place in the top five of the Order of Merit and return to the World Championship for the first time since 2021.

With 28 events in total on the Asian Tour calendar, this weekend’s quartet of tournaments could be pivotal in shaping the race to Ally Pally.

Meanwhile, in Slangerup, Denmark, the penultimate weekend of the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour gets underway. Andreas Harrysson currently leads the standings, closely followed by fellow Swede Oskar Lukasiak. The top two at the season’s end will book their spots at the World Darts Championship.

Leicester plays host to Players Championship events 20 and 21, each offering £125,000 in prize money. These tournaments will serve as the final opportunity for players to qualify for the World Matchplay, with the top 16 in the world and the best 16 from the Pro Tour Order of Merit earning their places in Blackpool.

Each event typically features 128 Tour Card holders, though late withdrawals open doors for Challenge Tour standouts to step in.

Held in Kiel, Germany, the Baltic Sea Darts Open offers one last tune-up before the World Matchplay. This Euro Tour event, now in its second year, returns with Rob Cross defending the title he won in 2024 over Luke Humphries.

The field is stacked, with all of the world’s top 16 competing—except Luke Littler, who sits this one out. Expect fireworks with names like Humphries, Van Gerwen, Aspinall, Price, and Gary Anderson in the mix.

The ADA Tour, designed for Australian and New Zealand players, resumes with its second tournament weekend. Raymond Smith dominated the first four events in June, and with a World Championship spot up for grabs, he’s in pole position heading into the middle stretch of the tour.

North America’s elite return to action in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, for the fifth through seventh events of the CDC Tour. Four events have already taken place, with Leonard Gates, Stowe Buntz, and Adam Sevada among the winners.

This 16-event circuit offers three coveted World Cup of Darts spots—one each for the top-ranked American and Canadian, and one for the highest-ranked non-qualified player.

Warilla, near Sydney, hosts the penultimate weekend of the DPA Tour. Joe Comito currently leads the Order of Merit with 144 points from 12 events, 32 ahead of James Bailey. Only the top-ranked player at season’s end will qualify for the World Championship.

All eyes turn to the iconic Winter Gardens as the World Matchplay returns. With £800,000 in total prize money and £200,000 to the winner, it stands as the second-richest ranking tournament after the Worlds.

The field features the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit alongside the top 16 from the Pro Tour Order of Merit as of July 10. Luke Humphries is the defending champion, having beaten Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling 2024 final.

The China Pro Tour continues with events 4 through 6. Earlier this year, Yuanjun Liu, Xiaochen Zong, and Tong Xu each secured titles. The ten-event circuit will culminate in one player earning qualification for the Asian Championship.

The CDLC Tour heads to the Bahamas for its third and fourth events. With Jesus Ruben Salate and Rashad Sweeting taking the first two titles, the race for World Cup qualification is intensifying. Only six events make up this tour, so every point counts.

Before the men's final in Blackpool, the top eight women compete in the Women’s World Matchplay. Reigning two-time champion Beau Greaves is the clear favorite but faces competition from Lisa Ashton, Noa-Lynn van Leuven, and Fallon Sherrock, the 2022 champion.

The entire tournament plays out on Sunday afternoon, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final all on the same day.

The Players Championship continues in Hildesheim, Germany, where Tour Card holders vie for vital ranking points. These events are crucial for qualification to the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, open only to the top 64 on the Players Championship Order of Merit.

The month closes with qualifying events in Hildesheim for Euro Tours 11 and 12. These qualifiers are vital opportunities for Tour Card holders not already qualified to book their places and potentially boost their standing ahead of the next major rankings cut.