PREVIEW 2024 World Matchplay: Who will take the prestigious title at the Winter Gardens
PDCFriday, 12 July 2024 at 10:13
The 2024 World Matchplay begins on Saturday July 13 with the latest edition of the prestigious tournament seen by many as on par or alongside the World Darts Championship as the biggest darting spectacle on the calendar.
Our preview runs you through the runners and riders for the latest edition which promises perhaps to be the most exciting yet right from the get go.
First round classics expected as Littler faces Van Gerwen and Smith takes on Anderson
As ever with the open draw, it can either cover the seeds and help them through or it can do what happened this year in which two big ties were pulled out and at least two big names will be going home.
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Luke Littler will face off against Michael van Gerwen albeit a tie that has less glamour for the fact that we've seen it what seems like 50 times already this season. Nine in all according to Littler with them playing in the Premier League and World Series a lot. So perhaps doesn't have the showpiece element despite the likely overhyping on the coverage but is still a nasty draw for one of those players who will lose out.
Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler will face off in the tie of the round.
The same can be said for Michael Smith v Gary Anderson. The latter of course having won the tournament before and will be hoping to recapture the form that has seen him firmly in the conversation again for major honours. Both will be played on Monday night.
Whilst Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld also stands out with the former who reached the final last year winning a title recently. Barney also is always a big draw no matter where he plays. But perhaps the main man to watch is Luke Humphries.
Humphries favourite as Aspinall, Price and Van den Bergh in danger?
The World No.1 and World Champion alongside Luke Littler as the 'two Luke's' is seen as the outstanding favourite for the title. Having ascended a top the world of darts albeit only for his thunder to be slightly taken by Littler, he has proven time and again why he is the best player in the world and at times has been utterly unplayable. RIcardo Pietreczko who may not be well received over here after incidents at the World Championship and Grand Slam of Darts may be in for a long night.
While Luke Woodhouse who will make his debut alongside four others will aim to topple the defending champion. Nathan Aspinall has made no secret that he has another injury and is not having the best of times with his wrist. But can 'The Shed' knock down 'The Asp' and cause a seismic shock on opening night. Both matches could see shocks, but it is more likely Aspinall on upset watch.
With recent injury issues is Nathan Aspinall the most in danger?
Another who will be on opening night is in the first match. Gerwyn Price has made no bones about the fact that he is not right and is still searching for answers when it comes to the health problems that took him out of the World Cup of Darts. He faces a resurgent Daryl Gurney who relishes the big stage and any sort of problems for Price will be magnified by Gurney.
Dimitri van den Bergh too faces on the Sunday afternoon session one of the best players in the world right now in Martin Schindler. Another upset. A Sunday that is now earlier due to the England game, but what effect will that have.
Rob Cross, Joe Cullen, Peter Wright and Ross Smith all start their campaigns, with upsets potentially all over a 50/50 draw. Smith gets a horrific draw in Josh Rock, while the same can be said for Cullen against the always game Brendan Dolan. Wright who has been woeful for some time faces Andrew Gilding who himself has not been the same since winning the UK Open. Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting also start their local tournament on the Sunday. The latter in particular is one to watch.
Then onto that Monday as Littler v Van Gerwen and Smith v Van Gerwen might be good but there is also two more games with the matter of Damon Heta v Ryan Searle which could be a scoring spectacle. While Ritchie Edhouse and Chris Dobey could be under the radar as tie of the round.
Edhouse has spent most of the season in devastatingly good form hence his debut and 'Madhouse' who can score with the best of them faces one of the smoothest throws in darts in Chris Dobey. A true treat for the eyes and amid all of the lauding of the two ties in between, it will be potentially the other two that could steal the show.
With Humphries leading but others faltering such as Van Gerwen, Aspinall and others, it could be the most open World Matchplay in a number of years. Can any debutants pull any rabbits out of hats, will the lauded ties deliver and will the heat get to anyone? All those answers will be on a postcard as of Saturday.
The darting spectacle that we all love is upon us and picking a winner is very much tougher than ever as big time darts returns to Blackpool.
How much prize money can be earned at the World Matchplay
After the World Darts Championship, the World Matchplay is the ranking tournament with the largest prize pool at the PDC. A total of 800,000 pounds of prize money is up for grabs at this event.
All 32 participants are guaranteed £10,000 in prize money. This could eventually add up to a check of as much as £200,000 for the darter who gets to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy on Sunday, July 21.
What is the format at the World Matchplay?
The World Matchplay is characterized by the long leg format. In the first round, ten legs (minimum) must be won to advance to the next round. This eventually increases to a format of best of 35 legs for the final.
Matches must be won with two legs difference. A match can be extended by up to six legs before a sudden-death leg breaks. For example: if there is an interval of 12-12 in the first round (normally best of 19 legs), the 25th leg brings the decision.
First round: Best of 19 legs
Second round: Best of 21 legs
Quarterfinals: Best of 31 legs
Semifinals: Best of 33 legs
Final: Best of 35 legs
Previous Winners - World Matchplay
- 1994: Larry Butler 16-12 Dennis Priestley
- 1995: Phil Taylor 16-11 Dennis Priestley
- 1996: Peter Evison 16-14 Dennis Priestley
- 1997: Phil Taylor 16-11 Alan Warriner
- 1998: Rod Harrington 19-17 Ronnie Baxter
- 1999: Rod Harrington 19-17 Peter Manley
- 2000: Phil Taylor 18-12 Alan Warriner
- 2001: Phil Taylor 18-10 Richie Burnett
- 2002: Phil Taylor 18-16 John Part
- 2003: Phil Taylor 18-12 Wayne Mardle
- 2004: Phil Taylor 18-8 Mark Dudbridge
- 2005: Colin Lloyd 18-12 John Part
- 2006: Phil Taylor 18-11 James Wade
- 2007: James Wade 18-7 Terry Jenkins
- 2008: Phil Taylor 18-9 James Wade
- 2009: Phil Taylor 18-4 Terry Jenkins
- 2010: Phil Taylor 18-12 Raymond van Barneveld
- 2011: Phil Taylor 18-8 James Wade
- 2012: Phil Taylor 18-15 James Wade
- 2013: Phil Taylor 18-13 Adrian Lewis
- 2014: Phil Taylor 18-9 Michael van Gerwen
- 2015: Michael van Gerwen 18-12 James Wade
- 2016: Michael van Gerwen 18-10 Phil Taylor
- 2017: Phil Taylor 18-8 Peter Wright
- 2018: Gary Anderson 21-19 Mensur Suljović
- 2019: Rob Cross 18-13 Michael Smith
- 2020: Dimitri Van den Bergh 18-10 Gary Anderson
- 2021: Peter Wright 18-9 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- 2022: Michael van Gerwen 18-14 Gerwyn Price
- 2023: Nathan Aspinall 18-6 Jonny Clayton
Phil Taylor holds the record with 16 titles, making him the most successful player in the history of the tournament. The tournament has been held annually at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool since its inception in 1994, except for 2020 when it was moved to the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schedule World Matchplay
Saturday, July 13 (from 7:30 p.m.)
First round
Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko
Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse
Sunday, July 14
Afternoon session (from 12 p.m.)
First round
Ross Smith v Josh Rock
Danny Noppert v James Wade
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Martin Schindler
Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce
Evening session (from 4:30 p.m.)
First round
Rob Cross v Gian van Veen
Joe Cullen v Brendan Dolan
Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding
Dave Chisnall v Krzysztof Ratajski
Monday, July 15 (from 7 p.m.)
First round
Damon Heta v Ryan Searle
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler
Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse
Tuesday, July 16 (from 7 p.m.)
Second Round
Wednesday, July 17 (from 7 p.m.)
Second Round
Thursday, July 18 (from 8 p.m.)
Quarterfinals (2x)
Friday, July 19 (from 8 p.m.)
Quarterfinals (2x)
Saturday, July 20 (from 8 p.m.)
Semifinals
Sunday, July 21 (from 8 p.m.)
Final
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Latest comments
- They are both legends and should be celebrated and have brought darts to where it is now. A statue should be put in Kirkcaldy for Jocky. The town has changed a lot.ListerAnderson16-10-2024
- He is a legend and should be rightfully celebrated.medinabello16-10-2024
- I would not change the format of any of the ranking events to make them double start. Grand Prix is unique and should stay that way.Mysstree15-10-2024
- Given how exciting this Grand Prix was, is there an argument that more top tournaments should have the double-start double-finish format? As a darts fan, I love to see lesser-known players excelling on the world stage and going deep into tournaments.
UndartedWaters15-10-2024 - A tremendous final and a deserving winner in The Real Deal Mike de Decker. And Luke Humphies, despite disappointment, put up a feisty resistance and showed his class in defeat. Darts is in a great place!UndartedWaters14-10-2024