Schedule Wednesday night at World Matchplay 2024 including Michael van Gerwen against Joe Cullen

On Tuesday, the first four players qualified for the quarterfinals at the World Matchplay. On Wednesday night, it's the turn of the eight players at the bottom of the tournament schedule. Read our preview for the matches on Wednesday evening at the World Matchplay here.

Eleven legs will have to be won to reach the next round. However, that is subject to a difference of at least two legs at that time. If the score is 10-10 after twenty legs, then a tie-break extension will be started. If the score is still tied after six additional legs, a sudden-death leg will be played.

The opening game of the evening was between two players who both managed to knock out a seeded player. Andrew Gilding sent Peter Wright home 10-5, while Krzysztof Ratajski recorded a resounding 10-2 victory over Dave Chisnall.

In the head-to-head, it is Gilding who holds a 4-1 lead over Ratajski. The Pole managed to win the very first meeting between the two players in 2019. After that, Gilding pulled ahead four times. Wednesday night's encounter will be the first-ever clash at a televised tournament, though.

Gilding can qualify for the last eight at the World Matchplay for the first time in his career. Ratajski previously did so in 2020 and 2021, even managing to reach the semifinals in 2021.  

An English clash between Rob Cross and Ryan Searle will determine who will be the next quarterfinalist in Blackpool. Cross survived six match darts in his first match against Gian van Veen before prevailing 13-12 after a sudden-death leg. Searle had an excellent start to the tournament with a 10-4 win over Damon Heta.

Cross can boast a fine record against his upcoming opponent. Of the previous 11 clashes between them, eight were won by "Voltage. At the majors, the score is only 2-1 in favor of the former world champion.

Searle was already in the quarterfinals of the World Matchplay last year, so he can repeat the feat. Cross only got past the second round in 2019. That also happened to be the year the 33-year-old Englishman won the event.

The cracker of the first round was won by Michael van Gerwen. The 35-year-old from Vlijmen proved too strong with 10-6 to teenage sensation Luke Littler. It earned him a meeting with Joe Cullen. 'The Rockstar' had dealt convincingly with Brendan Dolan (10-4) in the first round.

It will be the 37th meeting between the Dutchman and the Englishman. Of the previous 36 confrontations, 26 were won by Van Gerwen, including the last six encounters. Two years ago the two also met in the last sixteen at the World Matchplay. Then the victory went 11-5 to Van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen has reached the last eight in Blackpool eight times before. In 2015, 2016 and 2022, the three-time world champion was also finally allowed to lift the cup at the World Matchplay. Cullen is in the second round of the World Matchplay for the fifth consecutive year. In 2023, "The Rockstar" surprisingly made it to the semifinals.

The final quarterfinalist at the World Matchplay will be an Englishman. Michael Smith joined the last sixteen with a flashy 10-5 victory over his old mentior Gary Anderson. Dobey proved too strong for debutant Ritchie Edhouse (10-7).

Last year, the two Englishmen also faced each other in the second round of the World Matchplay. Then Dobey eliminated his compatriot with an 11-7 victory. In the head-to-head, 'Hollywood' is leading 7-6. Smith has won only one of the last six duels between him and Dobey.

Smith was last in the quarterfinals of the World Matchplay in 2021, having reached the final and semifinals in the previous two years. So Dobey was a quarterfinalist in Blackpool last year after losing three times in the first round before that.

Krzysztof Ratajski v Andrew Gilding

Rob Cross v Ryan Searle

Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen

Michael Smith v Chris Dobey