Schedule confirmed for 2022 World Matchplay: Defending champion Wright, Clayton and Van den Bergh to headline opening night
PDC
The schedule has been confirmed ahead of the 2022 World Matchplay which will take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool between July 16-25.
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Saturday night as ever sees the tradition continue of the defending champion opening proceedings up with both Peter Wright and finalist last year in Dimitri van den Bergh headlining. They will face Madars Razma and Callan Rydz respectively.
With multiple major winner, Jonny Clayton facing Rowby-John Rodriguez and Krzysztof Ratajski - Stephen Bunting also set for Saturday evening.
Sunday sees one of the tastiest afternoon sessions in the history of the tournament as Dirk van Duijvenbode will bring out his high-octane walk-on (to the crowd at 1pm instead of the evening) to face Ryan Searle.
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While UK Open champion Danny Noppert follows facing recent ProTour winner once more in Brendan Dolan. Gary Anderson won't be on during the Evening Session and instead plays Daryl Gurney in the afternoon, while Michael Smith and Andrew Gilding will collide in a clash of two form players in World Darts, with Goldfinger making his return to the major stage.
The evening session will all be about two players in particular as Michael van Gerwen faces Adrian Lewis in the most highly anticipated tie of the opening round. Will MVG be ready to return after surgery fully or will Lewis continue his resurgence and snap a losing streak against the Dutchman?
While Luke Humphries - truly the man of the moment in terms of titles this year and a hot outside tip to win the title this year faces Nathan Aspinall who has been resurgent himself.
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To start the session, it will be Joe Cullen facing Damon Heta in another barnstormer followed by James Wade, a former winner facing one of the debutants in 'Smash' Martin Lukeman.
Monday evening will conclude the first round with former champion, Rob Cross facing Chris Dobey, Jose de Sousa taking on Gabriel Clemens before Gerwyn Price will return from holiday to take on Martin Schindler. While Kim Huybrechts, who will look to erase his dismal Blackpool record faces Dave Chisnall.
2022 World Matchplay
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 16 (1900 BST)
4x First Round
Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Callan Rydz
Peter Wright v Madars Razma
Jonny Clayton v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Sunday July 17
Afternoon Session (1300 BST)
4x First Round
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Ryan Searle
Danny Noppert v Brendan Dolan
Gary Anderson v Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith v Andrew Gilding
Evening Session (1930 BST)
4x First Round
Joe Cullen v Damon Heta
James Wade v Martin Lukeman
Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall
Monday July 18 (1900 BST)
4x First Round
Rob Cross v Chris Dobey
Jose de Sousa v Gabriel Clemens
Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler
Dave Chisnall v Kim Huybrechts
Tuesday July 19 (1900 BST)
4x Second Round
Wednesday July 20 (1900 BST)
4x Second Round
Thursday July 21 (2000 BST)
2x Quarter-Finals
Friday July 22 (2000 BST)
2x Quarter-Finals
Saturday July 23 (2000 BST)
Semi-Finals
Sunday July 24
Afternoon Session (1300 BST)
Women's World Matchplay – Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Final
Evening Session (2100 BST)
Final

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Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026





