World Matchplay 2020: Schedule and preview Wednesday session with Wright against Durrant

Well, well, well. This World Matchplay is turning out to be something special.

Michael van Gerwen has joined Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price on the heap after being dumped out in style by Simon Whitlock. It means that unless Gary Anderson claims the World Matchplay, we'll have a brand new name to etch onto the Phil Taylor Trophy.

Daryl Gurney's now right up there with the favourites to take the title. The two-time major champion didn't really do much of anything against Ricky Evans to prove it, though his best wasn't needed. A ruthless spell of five legs on the bounce showed Gurney's ability to grab hold of matches.

His next assignment is Vincent van der Voort, who ended a miserable World Matchplay run in style with a thoroughly competent 10-6 win over Dave Chisnall. He also goes down in history as possibly the first person ever to be delighted to be in Milton Keynes. Van der Voort will be after a second Matchplay quarter-final, 11 years after his first.

World Matchplay 2020: Schedule and preview Wednesday session with Wright against Durrant
Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

The Dreammaker versus The Rockstar

Dimitri van den Bergh and Joe Cullen have got a real shot at taking their World Matchplay bid all the way. Both find themselves in a quarter of the draw missing three of the four seeds. Then again, given the depth of quality in the game right now, you could easily assume that this pair are in the top 16. Both clearly have the quality - it's nerves that threaten to derail their respective bids. Cullen's 2018 Matchplay journey at least gives him some valuable experience, while Van den Bergh will be buoyed by an excellent defeat of sixth seed Nathan Aspinall.

A year ago, Glen Durrant powered to a comfortable first round win, and then stunned the world champion. This time around, he claimed the biggest margin of victory of any first round matches, and now the world champion lies in wait. Some things don't change. Peter Wright went all Clark Kent in round one, ditching the glasses and then bulldozing poor Jose de Sousa. It was a close escape for Wright, and it's unlikely that Durrant will show him any routes back into the game should he fall behind.

Danny Noppert became very popular with a few people by ditching a heavily sub-par Gerwyn Price. Adrian Lewis might be one of those people - he's suddenly the only seed in his quarter. This could be the moment that Jackpot gets himself back into the reckoning for major titles. But let's not discount Noppie. For all the focus on Price's failings, the former world finalist put in a strong performance of his own. Van den Bergh or Cullen awaits the winner of this one.

Click here for more information about the World Matchplay, including the tournament bracket, TV coverage and prize money breakdown.

Schedule World Matchplay 2020

Wednesday July 22
Second Round

19:00 Daryl Gurney v Vincent van der Voort
20:00 Dimitri van den Bergh v Joe Cullen
21:00 Peter Wright v Glen Durrant
22:00 Danny Noppert v Adrian Lewis

World Matchplay 2020: Schedule and preview Wednesday session with Wright against Durrant
Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

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