Schedule of Play for World Matchplay 2023 confirmed: Price-Bunting and Anderson-Chisnall headline opening night

The playing schedule for the 2023 World Matchplay has been announced. Headlining the opening, both Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson will be getting their campaigns underway.

From July 15 to 23, the darts spectacle erupts in Blackpool, which has hosted the World Matchplay since 1994. The first three days of play revolve around the first round.

In the opening match of the 2023 World Matchplay, Joe Cullen and Mike de Decker face each other. For De Decker, it will be his debut at the prestigious summer tournament. The duels between Rob Cross-Daryl Gurney, Gerwyn Price-Stephen Bunting and the first-round cracker between Dave Chisnall and Gary Anderson are also scheduled on the first day of play.

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Sunday, July 16 is a day in which some more of the competition's big hopes get their campaigns underway. In the afternoon Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode will play. They will meet Martin Schindler and Kim Huybrechts respectively. Youth world champion Josh Rock also plays on Sunday afternoon. He meets Damon Heta in the first round. The afternoon session concludes with a match between James Wade and Chris Dobey.

On Sunday night, Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen begin their tournament. Van Gerwen faces Brendan Dolan, and for Smith a duel with 59-year-old darts legend Steve Beaton awaits. During this session, Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries will also take to the stage at the Winter Gardens. They will play against Krzysztof Ratajski and Jose de Sousa, respectively.

The four final matches from the first round are scheduled for Monday night, July 17. That evening kicks off with a clash between Dimitri van den Bergh and Ross Smith, before Raymond van Barneveld makes his return to the World Matchplay against Ryan Searle. Peter Wright meets UK Open champion Andrew Gilding while the final duel of the first round goes between Jonny Clayton and Gabriel Clemens.

Schedule of Play World Matchplay 2023

Saturday, July 15 (from 7 p.m.)

First round

Joe Cullen v Mike De Decker

Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney

Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting

Dave Chisnall v Gary Anderson

Sunday, July 16

Afternoon session (from 1 p.m.)

First round

Danny Noppert v Martin Schindler

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Kim Huybrechts

Damon Heta v Josh Rock

James Wade v Chris Dobey

Evening session (from 7:30 p.m.)

First round

Nathan Aspinall v Krzysztof Ratajski

Luke Humphries v Jose de Sousa

Michael van Gerwen v Brendan Dolan

Michael Smith v Steve Beaton

Monday, July 17 (from 7 p.m.)

First round

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ross Smith

Ryan Searle v Raymond van Barneveld

Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding

Jonny Clayton v Gabriel Clemens

Tuesday, July 18 (from 7 p.m.)

Second round (order may change)

M Smith/Beaton v Wade/Dobey

Noppert/Schindler v Aspinall/Ratajski

Price/Bunting v Cullen/De Decker

Cross/Gurney v Chisnall/Anderson

Wednesday, July 19 (from 7 p.m.)

Second round (order may change)

Wright/Gilding v Searle/Van Barneveld

Clayton/Clemens v Van den Bergh/R Smith

Van Gerwen/Dolan v Heta/Rock

Humphries/De Sousa v Van Duijvenbode/Huybrechts

Thursday, July 20 (from 8 p.m.)

Quarterfinals (2x)

Friday, July 21 (from 8 p.m.)

Quarterfinals (2x)

Saturday, July 22 (from 8 p.m.)

Semifinals

Sunday, July 23 (from 8 p.m.)

Final