Schedule Sunday afternoon at World Matchplay 2025: Former champions Peter Wright & Rob Cross begin their campaigns

The first afternoon session of the 2025 World Matchplay takes place on Sunday 20 July, with four intriguing first-round ties on the schedule. Among those in action are former champions Peter Wright and Rob Cross, as the Winter Gardens in Blackpool prepares for another packed session of top-tier darts.

The World Matchplay is the second-most prestigious ranking tournament of the year, boasting a prize fund of £800,000. The field consists of 32 players: the top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit are seeded, and they’re joined by the top 16 performers from the Pro Tour rankings.
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The afternoon kicks off with a clash between Damon Heta and Andrew Gilding. Heta’s best run at the World Matchplay came in 2023 when he reached the quarter-finals, and the Australian is enjoying another solid season on the floor circuit, having already picked up two Players Championship titles. However, his form on the big TV stages has yet to match that success. Despite being a regular fixture in the world’s top 10, Heta has never reached a major final.

He’ll be hoping to break that duck in Blackpool—but first must navigate a tough opening test against Gilding. The Englishman made it to the quarter-finals here last year and, unlike Heta, has a major title to his name: the shock UK Open triumph in 2023. Heta may start as favourite on recent form, but if Gilding finds his rhythm, it could be a close contest.

Next up is a meeting between Rob Cross and Dirk van Duijvenbode. The Dutchman is making his fourth appearance at the Matchplay after missing last year’s event. His best performance came in 2022 when he reached the quarter-finals, only to be beaten by compatriot Danny Noppert.

Van Duijvenbode comes into this year’s event under unusual circumstances. His partner is due to give birth at any moment, meaning he could potentially withdraw from the tournament mid-run. That uncertainty could weigh on his mind during Sunday’s match.

Cross will be hoping to capitalise. The 2019 Matchplay champion knows what it takes to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy—he defeated Michael Smith 18-15 in the final that year—but hasn’t had much joy at the Winter Gardens since. Six of his eight previous appearances have ended before the quarter-finals. On paper, there’s little to separate these two, but Van Duijvenbode’s off-oche situation could prove decisive.

The third match sees two-time World Champion Peter Wright take on a revitalised Jermaine Wattimena. The Dutchman has yet to win a match in four previous World Matchplay appearances, but arrives in Blackpool full of confidence after a strong run of form.

Since reaching the final of the European Championship in October 2024, Wattimena has reached the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam, the last 32 of the World Championship (where he lost 4-2 to Wright), and more recently made a Players Championship final. A first Matchplay win now feels within reach.

But he’ll have to get past Wright, who returns for his 15th Matchplay campaign. The Scot won the title in 2021 with a commanding victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh but has slipped down the rankings in recent seasons. Now 55 and ranked 15th in the world, Wright risks falling out of the elite unless he can string together some results. Despite the form book favouring Wattimena, Wright’s experience and pedigree mean he can never be written off.

The afternoon concludes with Belgium’s Mike De Decker facing Dave Chisnall. It’s only De Decker’s second appearance at the Matchplay—his debut in 2023 ended in a 10-7 loss to Joe Cullen—but since then, the Belgian has made significant strides. Most notably, he captured his first major title by winning the World Grand Prix last year, defeating Luke Humphries in the final.

His opponent, Chisnall, is one of the most experienced players in the field. This is his 15th consecutive Matchplay appearance. He’s reached five quarter-finals but never made it past that stage, and in the last two editions, he’s exited in round one. Nevertheless, Chisnall remains a dangerous opponent—especially if his trademark heavy scoring clicks into gear. De Decker will need to be sharp from the start if he’s to advance.