14/07/2020

Schedule released for World Matchplay: Van Gerwen and Anderson to play on opening night

The schedule has been released ahead of the World Matchplay which is set to begin on Saturday, July 18 with Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson set to star on the opening night in Milton Keynes.

The £700,000 tournament will be staged behind closed doors and away from Blackpool for the first time since its inception with players set to face off for the Phil Taylor Trophy.

Saturday will see the first round begin with two-time winner Van Gerwen aiming to return to the winners' circle in the tournament after a few barren years. He faces Brendan Dolan - who will aim to upset the odds after a return to form.

2007 winner James Wade will take on Keegan Brown, while 2018 champion Anderson will take on Justin Pipe. Recent first time winner on the PDC Tour, Ryan Joyce will take on two-time semi-finalist Simon Whitlock.

While Krzysztof Ratajski will take on Jermaine Wattimena in the final fixture of the opening night. Rob Cross will then begin his title defence on Sunday night against Gabriel Clemens.

Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Mensur Suljovic will also star on the second night. Monday sees the likes of Gerwyn Price, Steve Beaton and Daryl Gurney among those involved.

Nathan Aspinall and Dimitri van den Bergh's tie will conclude the first round on Tuesday, which also sees the first four matches begin in the Last 16.

2020 World Matchplay
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 18 (1800)
5x First Round Matches

Simon Whitlock v Ryan Joyce
Krzysztof Ratajski v Jermaine Wattimena
James Wade v Keegan Brown
Michael van Gerwen v Brendan Dolan
Gary Anderson v Justin Pipe

Sunday July 19 (1800)
5x First Round Matches

Mensur Suljovic v Jamie Hughes
Glen Durrant v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Rob Cross v Gabriel Clemens
Peter Wright v Jose De Sousa
Michael Smith v Jonny Clayton

Monday July 20 (1800)
5x First Round Matches

Dave Chisnall v Vincent van der Voort
Ian White v Joe Cullen
Daryl Gurney v Ricky Evans
Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Adrian Lewis v Steve Beaton

Tuesday July 21 (1800)
1x First Round, 4x Second Round Matches

Nathan Aspinall v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Smith/Clayton v Suljovic/Hughes
Anderson/Pipe v Wade/Brown
Van Gerwen/Dolan v Whitlock/Joyce
Cross/Clemens v Ratajski/Wattimena