World Matchplay 2026: Draw, Schedule, Field, History, Format and Predictions

Thursday, 16 July 2026 at 15:06

The 2026 World Matchplay will be played from Saturday, 18 July to Sunday, 26 July at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool. One of the most prestigious ranking tournaments on the PDC calendar, the World Matchplay once again brings together the world's top 32 players for a week of elite darts.

The field consists of the top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit, joined by the top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit who have not already qualified via the main world rankings. As always, this guarantees a world-class lineup.

The defending champion is Luke Littler. He won the 2025 title by defeating James Wade 18–13 in the final and returns this year looking to win back-to-back World Matchplay titles at the Winter Gardens.

Draw World Matchplay 2026

Player 1	v	Player 2
Luke Littler	v	Niko Springer
Nathan Aspinall	v	Joe Cullen
Josh Rock	v	Luke Woodhouse
Stephen Bunting	v	Niels Zonneveld
Michael van Gerwen	v	Andrew Gilding
Chris Dobey	v	Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jonny Clayton	v	Damon Heta
Gary Anderson	v	Ryan Joyce
Luke Humphries	v	Cameron Menzies
Ross Smith	v	Kevin Doets
Gerwyn Price	v	Martin Schindler
Danny Noppert	v	Rob Cross
Gian van Veen	v	Krzysztof Ratajski
Wessel Nijman	v	Dave Chisnall
James Wade	v	Jermaine Wattimena
Ryan Searle	v	William O'Connor

Schedule World Matchplay 2026

Saturday July 18 (1900 BST) or Saturday July 18 (1300 BST)

Round One x4

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
Josh Rock	v	Luke Woodhouse	R1
Stephen Bunting	v	Niels Zonneveld	R1
Luke Littler	v	Niko Springer	R1
Nathan Aspinall	v	Joe Cullen	R1

Sunday July 19 (1300 BST) or Saturday July 18 (1900 BST)

Round One x4

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
Chris Dobey	v	Dirk van Duijvenbode	R1
Gary Anderson	v	Ryan Joyce	R1
Michael van Gerwen	v	Andrew Gilding	R1
Jonny Clayton	v	Damon Heta	R1

Sunday July 19 (1900 BST) or Sunday July 19 (1300 BST)

Round One x4

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
Ryan Searle	v	William O'Connor	R1
James Wade	v	Jermaine Wattimena	R1
Gian van Veen	v	Krzysztof Ratajski	R1
Wessel Nijman	v	Dave Chisnall	R1

Monday July 20 (1900 BST)

Round One x4

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
Ross Smith	v	Kevin Doets	R1
Gerwyn Price	v	Martin Schindler	R1
Luke Humphries	v	Cameron Menzies	R1
Danny Noppert	v	Rob Cross	R1

Tuesday July 21 (1900 BST)

Round Two x4 – match order TBC

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
Luke Littler / Niko Springer	v	Nathan Aspinall / Joe Cullen	R2
Josh Rock / Luke Woodhouse	v	Stephen Bunting / Niels Zonneveld	R2
Michael van Gerwen / Andrew Gilding	v	Chris Dobey / Dirk van Duijvenbode	R2
Jonny Clayton / Damon Heta	v	Gary Anderson / Ryan Joyce	R2

Wednesday July 22 (1900 BST)

Round Two x4 – match order TBC

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
Luke Humphries / Cameron Menzies	v	Ross Smith / Kevin Doets	R2
Gerwyn Price / Martin Schindler	v	Danny Noppert / Rob Cross	R2
Gian van Veen / Krzysztof Ratajski	v	Wessel Nijman / Dave Chisnall	R2
James Wade / Jermaine Wattimena	v	Ryan Searle / William O'Connor	R2

Thursday July 23 (2000 BST *)

Quarter-Finals x2

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
TBC	v	TBC	QF
TBC	v	TBC	QF

Friday July 24 (2000 BST *)

Quarter-Finals x2

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
TBC	v	TBC	QF
TBC	v	TBC	QF

Saturday July 25 (2000 BST *)

Semi-Finals

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
TBC	v	TBC	SF
TBC	v	TBC	SF

Sunday July 26

Evening Session (2000 BST*)

Player 1	v	Player 2	Round
TBC	v	TBC	Final

Field World Matchplay 2026

Top 16 – PDC Order of Merit

Rank	Player
1	Luke Littler
2	Luke Humphries
3	Gian van Veen
4	Michael van Gerwen
5	Jonny Clayton
6	James Wade
7	Gerwyn Price
8	Josh Rock
9	Stephen Bunting
10	Danny Noppert
11	Ryan Searle
12	Gary Anderson
13	Chris Dobey
14	Wessel Nijman
15	Ross Smith
16	Nathan Aspinall

Top 16 – PDC ProTour Order of Merit

Rank	Player
1	Luke Woodhouse
2	Jermaine Wattimena
3	Kevin Doets
4	Andrew Gilding
5	Rob Cross
6	Krzysztof Ratajski
7	William O'Connor
8	Niko Springer
9	Niels Zonneveld
10	Martin Schindler
11	Ryan Joyce
12	Dirk van Duijvenbode
13	Cameron Menzies
14	Joe Cullen
15	Damon Heta
16	Dave Chisnall

When will the World Matchplay schedule be confirmed?

The full match schedule is usually announced a few days after the draw has been completed.

But will follow this same schedule for when the big names play and when the final will be. There will also be the Women's World Matchplay in between on Sunday afternoon.

Format

The World Matchplay is played as the title suggests using a legs format, with match distances increasing as the tournament progresses. The top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit are seeded and face the 16 ProTour qualifiers in the opening round.

One of the tournament's unique features is its two-clear-leg rule. Players must normally win by a margin of two legs. If neither player has achieved that margin at the end of the scheduled match distance, play continues for a maximum of six additional legs. Should the scores still be level after those extra legs, the match is decided by a sudden-death leg.

Round	Format
First Round	Best of 19 legs
Second Round	Best of 21 legs
Quarter-finals	Best of 31 legs
Semi-finals	Best of 33 legs
Final	Best of 35 legs

History

The World Matchplay boasts a rich history, yet its list of champions remains remarkably exclusive. Across the 32 editions held so far, only 14 different players have lifted the prestigious trophy at the Winter Gardens. Even more impressively, only three players have won the tournament on multiple occasions.

Far ahead of everyone else stands Phil Taylor. The English legend dominated the World Matchplay for many years, winning the title an incredible 16 times. In recognition of his extraordinary achievements, the tournament trophy was renamed in his honour. Since 2018, players have competed for the Phil Taylor Trophy.

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Behind Taylor is Michael van Gerwen, who has won the title three times. Rod Harrington completes the list of multiple champions, having won the second and third editions of the tournament. He remains the only player besides Taylor and Van Gerwen to have lifted the trophy more than once.

Phil Taylor kisses the World Matchplay trophy.

Phil Taylor eventually had the trophy named after him.

Every other champion has won the World Matchplay once, earning a place on the honour roll of one of the sport's most prestigious major tournaments. That list includes Larry Butler, Peter Evison, Colin Lloyd, James Wade, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries, and reigning champion Luke Littler.

World Matchplay Roll of Honour

Year	Winner (Average)	Score	Runner-up (Average)
1994	Larry Butler (92.70)	16–12	Dennis Priestley (91.59)
1995	Phil Taylor (90.72)	16–11	Dennis Priestley (87.63)
1996	Peter Evison (100.51)	16–14	Dennis Priestley (96.67)
1997	Phil Taylor (106.32)	16–11	Alan Warriner (98.42)
1998	Rod Harrington (95.03)	19–17	Ronnie Baxter (94.07)
1999	Rod Harrington (85.95)	19–17	Peter Manley (86.91)
2000	Phil Taylor (100.32)	18–12	Alan Warriner (97.14)
2001	Phil Taylor (99.57)	18–10	Richie Burnett (90.99)
2002	Phil Taylor (98.76)	18–16	John Part (94.14)
2003	Phil Taylor (94.38)	18–12	Wayne Mardle (97.44)
2004	Phil Taylor (100.20)	18–8	Mark Dudbridge (89.24)
2005	Colin Lloyd (97.89)	18–12	John Part (94.53)
2006	Phil Taylor (100.08)	18–11	James Wade (90.01)
2007	James Wade (96.83)	18–7	Terry Jenkins (91.62)
2008	Phil Taylor (109.47)	18–9	James Wade (102.58)
2009	Phil Taylor (106.05)	18–4	Terry Jenkins (92.32)
2010	Phil Taylor (105.16)	18–12	Raymond van Barneveld (100.11)
2011	Phil Taylor (103.84)	18–8	James Wade (98.84)
2012	Phil Taylor (98.97)	18–15	James Wade (95.92)
2013	Phil Taylor (111.23)	18–13	Adrian Lewis (105.92)
2014	Phil Taylor (107.19)	18–9	Michael van Gerwen (101.49)
2015	Michael van Gerwen (99.91)	18–12	James Wade (90.37)
2016	Michael van Gerwen (103.93)	18–10	Phil Taylor (101.13)
2017	Phil Taylor (104.24)	18–8	Peter Wright (99.74)
2018	Gary Anderson (101.12)	21–19	Mensur Suljović (104.43)
2019	Rob Cross (95.16)	18–13	Michael Smith (95.91)
2020	Dimitri Van den Bergh (98.31)	18–10	Gary Anderson (92.81)
2021	Peter Wright (105.90)	18–9	Dimitri Van den Bergh (100.88)
2022	Michael van Gerwen (101.19)	18–14	Gerwyn Price (96.92)
2023	Nathan Aspinall (96.21)	18–6	Jonny Clayton (93.56)
2024	Luke Humphries (100.94)	18–15	Michael van Gerwen (98.74)
2025	Luke Littler (107.24)	18–13	James Wade (101.54)

Predictions World Matchplay 2026

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com picks Luke Littler for the title.

It might be cliche right now to pick Luke Humphries over Luke Littler given that he has shown better form as of late.

But while I think he will be up there, Littler is a winning machine and I see him having a great week in Blackpool. Other results, I see Luke Woodhouse downing Josh Rock and having a good run. Same with Zonneveld over Bunting.

Jonny Clayton, James Wade and Ross Smith also to be there or thereabouts.

*** Luke Littler

** Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton

* James Wade, Ross Smith, Luke Woodhouse

Lucas Michael, Editor for DartsNews.com has picked Luke Humphries.

Another trip to Blackpool awaits with the World Matchplay set to be fiercely competed by 32 of the best darters in the world. However, all eyes will be on two of them.

I cannot see Luke Littler or Luke Humphries having too much trouble coming out on top in their quarter of the draw. While Nathan Aspinall could prove to be a tough test if that occurs in the second round for the reigning champion and a quarter-final clash against Gerwyn Price a tricky encounter for ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ I believe that they have the game to avoid any obstacles and challenge for their second Matchplay title.

I can see Wessel Nijman transferring his form from the floor to the big stage, as done on the European Tour with great effect. This means that Gian van Veen will not make it far in the event, a prediction I am confident on in this moment in time.

Luke Humphries to clinch the title?

It is tough to say who will come out on top in Michael van Gerwen’s quarter. The three-time champion could prove too good for the rest, but the consistency problems cannot be overlooked. The same argument with Gary Anderson, although a semi-final against Littler would be a tantalising prospect. I will throw out a rogue shout and say that Dirk van Duijvenbode goes deep in the event, causing some upsets throughout the way.

So that is the semi-final lineup. Boring as it may seem, Littler and Humphries should be too strong for their respected Dutch opponents. That remains one question: which Luke will win a second Matchplay title? I feel like the Humphries game is coming strong at a good time, and that will show in a statement title win in Blackpool over his nemesis on the big stage.

*** Luke Humphries

** Luke Littler, Wessel Nijman

* Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, Dirk van Duijvenbode

Nicolas Gayer, Editor for DartsNews.DE has picked Humphries also.

Perhaps it is simply the urge not to go with the obvious choice, but I genuinely believe that Luke Littler will not win the World Matchplay this year. And the reason goes by the name of Luke Humphries.

It feels as though I have written these words several times already, because I have picked “Cool Hand Luke” to win so many of our recent predictions. But I can only repeat myself: I have been hugely impressed by the Englishman's development this season.

What began as a difficult campaign has increasingly turned into another step forward for Humphries. He has battled through his fluctuations in form and, in my view, emerged as an even better player. I have been saying it for quite some time now: you simply cannot play this well without winning something big. And I believe that is exactly what will happen in Blackpool.

Ahead of every major, attention naturally turns to potential surprises — both positive and negative. The big name I can most easily see falling early is Gerwyn Price. At the moment, “The Iceman” simply does not strike me as being fully focused on what is happening at the oche, something he himself admitted only recently.

Price opens his campaign against Martin Schindler, and while I still consider him the favourite to come through that match, there is also a bigger storyline attached to it. German darts has been waiting since 2019 for only its second-ever win at the World Matchplay. Should Schindler lose to Price, the hopes of a nation will rest on Niko Springer, who faces none other than Luke Littler. The long wait could therefore be set to continue.

My pick for the tournament’s positive surprise is Krzysztof Ratajski. I believe “The Polish Eagle” will overcome World Championship finalist and world number three Gian van Veen in the opening round and produce another deep run in Blackpool, where he famously reached the semi-finals back in 2021.

Favourites:

*** Luke Humphries

** Luke Littler, James Wade

* Jonny Clayton, Rob Cross, Krzysztof Ratajski

Bram Coenen, Editor for Dartsnieuws.com is picking Luke Littler instead.

The World Matchplay is a tournament that darts fans look forward to every single year. Not only because it is considered the second-biggest major in the PDC calendar, but also because it has been quite some time since we last witnessed a major tournament being played. In fact, the last major event dates back to the beginning of March, if we exclude the Premier League Darts, where only eight players were involved.

It may sound repetitive by now, but once again Luke Littler enters the tournament as the clear favourite to retain his title. While the young Englishman can still occasionally struggle on the smaller events, he almost always delivers when the biggest prizes are at stake. On the major stage, Littler has consistently shown that he belongs among the very best players in the world.

This year, Littler has an additional source of motivation: his ambition to win every major title on offer. So far, he is certainly on the right track. His performances throughout the season have underlined his status as the player everyone wants to beat, and another World Matchplay triumph would only strengthen his already remarkable legacy at such a young age.

The biggest challenge is likely to come from his compatriot Luke Humphries. ‘Cool Hand Luke’ has already proven on several occasions that he can match Littler’s scoring power and compete with him at the highest level. However, the finishing aspect of his game has sometimes let him down, particularly in crucial moments against the very best players. If Humphries can find his consistency on the doubles, he has every chance of challenging for another major title.

Besides this English duo, one player I am particularly interested to see is Wessel Nijman. The 25-year-old Dutchman has arguably been the standout player of the season behind Littler. Nijman has already won six Players Championships and two European Tour titles this year, demonstrating that he has the ability to compete with the world’s elite. The big question now is whether he can transfer that form to the second-biggest major of the year. There will undoubtedly be pressure on his shoulders, but the World Matchplay represents another opportunity to prove that he belongs on the biggest stages.

As potential outsiders, I would like to highlight Jonny Clayton and James Wade. Calling them outsiders may actually be doing both players a disservice given their impressive careers and long list of achievements. However, it has been some time since either man lifted a major trophy.

Clayton has enjoyed a very strong season so far and continues to show that, despite now being past the age of 50, he remains more than capable of competing for major honours. His consistency, experience and ability to perform under pressure make him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the field.

Wade, meanwhile, has come agonisingly close in recent years. Last season, he reached two major finals, only to find Luke Littler standing in his way on both occasions. At the World Matchplay specifically, Wade was the runner-up last year, narrowly missing out on another famous title. The question now is whether he can finally go one step further and lift the trophy this time around.

With Littler aiming for another historic achievement, Humphries looking to reclaim his place among the very best, Nijman hoping to announce himself on the biggest stage, and experienced names such as Clayton and Wade chasing another major success, this year’s World Matchplay promises to be another fascinating chapter in the history of darts.

*** Luke Littler

** Luke Humphries

* Wessel Nijman, Jonny Clayton, James Wade

Luke Littler won the 2025 World Matchplay to complete the Triple Crown

Pieter Verbeek, editor at DartsNieuws.com, believes it is impossible to look past Luke Littler heading into the World Matchplay. "Five majors have been played in 2026, and Luke Littler has won all five. You have to be very brave not to make him the favourite for the World Matchplay. The last time Littler lost a match in a televised major was at the 2025 European Championship. Another factor working in his favour is the World Matchplay's long leg format. Since arriving on the PDC circuit, 'The Nuke' has hardly lost a match that required more than 10 legs to win."

The only player Verbeek feels has been able to consistently challenge Littler is Luke Humphries. "Luke Humphries remains the one player who has been able to get anywhere near Littler over the past few years. In May, 'Cool Hand Luke' came within a single leg of retaining the Premier League title, and last month he picked up an important confidence boost by defeating his biggest rival in the final of the US Darts Masters in New York. It wasn't a major, but it was another reminder that Humphries is still capable of matching Littler."

Looking beyond the two English stars, Verbeek expects Wessel Nijman to make a serious impact in Blackpool. "You also can't ignore Wessel Nijman. The Dutchman has already won eight ranking titles this season, including two European Tour events. Now it's time for him to produce those performances on the major stage as well. The draw has worked out nicely for him too, with Dave Chisnall first up before a potential meeting with either Gian van Veen or Krzysztof Ratajski. That gives Nijman an excellent opportunity to reach his first major quarter-final."

Verbeek also believes the World Matchplay could prove pivotal for Michael van Gerwen's season. "This is a hugely important tournament for Michael van Gerwen, who has a lot of prize money to defend during the second half of the year. It all starts in Blackpool, where he is defending the runner-up finish he achieved in 2024. Over the last few months we've seen flashes of his very best form, but the consistency hasn't quite been there to seriously contend for titles."

One player Verbeek refuses to overlook is James Wade. "You can never write off James Wade in Blackpool. Between 2006 and 2015 he reached at least the quarter-finals every single year at the World Matchplay. After a few quieter years, 'The Machine' has rediscovered his form at the Winter Gardens by reaching the semi-finals and the final in the last two editions. He's also landed in one of the more favourable sections of the draw, so there's every chance he'll be involved in the latter stages once again."

*** Luke Littler

** Luke Humphries

* Michael van Gerwen, Wessel Nijman, James Wade

Samuel GillChief Content Officer

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.

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.

In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.

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