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.
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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.
Preview Sunday World Matchplay
On Sunday evening, the iconic Empress Ballroom in Blackpool will host the 2026 World Matchplay final. From 8:00pm, defending champion Luke Littler and 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price will battle for the prestigious Phil Taylor Trophy.
It will see two of the biggest names in darts go head-to-head, albeit with very different stories behind their runs to the final. While Littler has stormed through the tournament with a series of spectacular performances, Price has completed an impressive comeback after a difficult spell in his career and will contest the World Matchplay final for only the second time after reaching it in 2022.
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The final: Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price
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The defending champion is once again producing a tournament for the history books in Blackpool. Luke Littler has reached the final with a level of dominance rarely seen at the World Matchplay.
The two-time world champion made an immediate statement in the opening round. Against Germany's Niko Springer, Littler began his title defence with a 109.53 average in a comfortable 10-6 victory. He was even more impressive in the second round against Nathan Aspinall. In one of the standout matches of the PDC season so far, "The Nuke" opened the contest with a sensational nine-darter, narrowly missed a second perfect leg shortly afterwards, and progressed to the quarter-finals with an outstanding 113.68 average in an 11-8 win.
Littler then faced a repeat of last year's semi-final against Josh Rock. Whereas their 2025 meeting had produced a thrilling 17-14 contest, the Englishman left no doubt this time. Averaging another remarkable 109.57, he completely outplayed the Northern Irishman to record a commanding 16-7 victory and reach the semi-finals.
There, "The Nuke" gave Dirk van Duijvenbode no chance either. Producing yet another brilliant display with a stunning 110.88 average, Littler swept past the Dutchman 17-5 to book his place in the final.
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Price's impressive comeback
Gerwyn Price's route to the final tells a very different story.
Even before the tournament began, the contrast between the two finalists could hardly have been greater. While Littler has been dominating almost every event he has entered, Price had struggled in recent months with both his form and motivation. During the World Series event in the United States, the Welshman even admitted that he would currently rather be working on his farm than competing on the biggest darts stages.
That sentiment initially appeared to carry over into his opening match against Martin Schindler. Price looked well below his best and, trailing 6-2 before later falling 8-5 behind, seemed destined for an early exit. However, Schindler allowed the Welshman back into the contest, providing the spark Price needed. He completed a remarkable comeback to win 11-9 after extra legs.
That victory appeared to restore his confidence. In the second round, Price comfortably defeated former world champion Rob Cross 11-5 before producing his best performance of the tournament in the quarter-finals, averaging 102.78 in a 16-12 victory over the in-form Ross Smith.
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In the semi-finals, the 2021 world champion faced Gian van Veen. Price controlled the match from the outset, repeatedly opening up leads of three, four and even five legs before sealing a convincing 17-10 victory to reach the World Matchplay final for the second time in his career.
Can Price stop the defending champion?
The final now pits the world number one against the virtual new world number four. Having spent several seasons together in the Premier League, the pair know each other extremely well. They have faced one another 28 times previously, with Littler holding a commanding advantage after winning 20 of those encounters. Price has prevailed on just eight occasions.
Following his semi-final victory, the Welshman insisted he believes he has every chance against the defending champion. Price suggested that many players make things too easy for Littler and expressed confidence that, over the longer format of a World Matchplay final, he is capable of matching the teenager's level.
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That is exactly what "The Iceman" must prove on Sunday evening. One thing is already certain before a dart has even been thrown: Luke Littler will walk onto the Empress Ballroom stage in sensational form.
Schedule World Matchplay 2026
Saturday July 18 (1900 BST)
Round One x4
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| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Josh Rock | (90.42) 10-4 (88.83) | Luke Woodhouse | R1 |
| Stephen Bunting | (94.49) 13-12 (91.29) | Niels Zonneveld | R1 |
| Luke Littler | (109.53) 10-6 (97.65) | Niko Springer | R1 |
| Nathan Aspinall | (105.32) 10-5 (95.79) | Joe Cullen | R1 |
Sunday July 19 (1300 BST)
Round One x4
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Chris Dobey | (97.35) 11-13 (92.78) | Dirk van Duijvenbode | R1 |
| Gary Anderson | (109.96) 10-2 (95.49) | Ryan Joyce | R1 |
| Michael van Gerwen | (94.85) 10-6 (88.54) | Andrew Gilding | R1 |
| Jonny Clayton | (97.63) 10-7 (96.10) | Damon Heta | R1 |
Sunday July 19 (1900 BST)
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Round One x4
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Ryan Searle | (94.98) 10-6 (95.18) | William O'Connor | R1 |
| James Wade | (96.19) 10-7 (92.87) | Jermaine Wattimena | R1 |
| Gian van Veen | (93.55) 10-6 (95.55) | Krzysztof Ratajski | R1 |
| Wessel Nijman | (98.63) 10-5 (94.47) | Dave Chisnall | R1 |
Monday July 20 (1900 BST)
Round One x4
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Ross Smith | (100.55) 10-6 (104.19) | Kevin Doets | R1 |
| Gerwyn Price | (93.88) 11-9 (90.69) | Martin Schindler | R1 |
| Luke Humphries | (99.56) 7-10 (97.83) | Cameron Menzies | R1 |
| Danny Noppert | (91.80) 3-10 (97.41) | Rob Cross | R1 |
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Tuesday July 21 (1900 BST)
Round Two x4 – match order TBC
| Jonny Clayton | (97.72) 7-11 (98.13) | Gary Anderson | R2 |
| Michael van Gerwen | (99.49) 12-14 (95.93) | Dirk van Duijvenbode | R2 |
| Luke Littler | (113.68) 11-8 (101.24) | Nathan Aspinall | R2 |
| Josh Rock | (91.18) 11-6 (82.90) | Stephen Bunting | R2 |
Wednesday July 22 (1900 BST)
Round Two x4 – match order TBC
| Cameron Menzies | 2-1 w/o | Ross Smith | R2 |
| Gian van Veen | (96.95) 14-12 (97.44) | Wessel Nijman | R2 |
| Gerwyn Price | (97.84) 11-5 (93.82) | Rob Cross | R2 |
| James Wade | (99.85) 11-8 (95.76) | Ryan Searle | R2 |
Thursday July 23 (2000 BST *)
Quarter-Finals x2
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Dirk van Duijvenbode | (101.49) 16-13 (101.32) | Gary Anderson | QF |
| Luke Littler | (109.57) 16-7 (101.24) | Josh Rock | QF |
Friday July 24 (2000 BST *)
Quarter-Finals x2
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Ross Smith | (98.16) 12-16 (102.78) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| Gian van Veen | (93.04) 16-13 (97.05) | James Wade | QF |
Saturday July 25 (2000 BST *)
Semi-Finals
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Gerwyn Price | (96.65) 17-10 (91.62) | Gian van Veen | SF |
| Luke Littler | (110.88) 17-5 (92.02) | Dirk van Duijvenbode | SF |
Sunday July 26
Evening Session (2000 BST*)
| Player 1 | v | Player 2 | Round |
| Luke Littler | (111.53) 18-9 (104.97) | Gerwyn Price | 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.
- First Round: Saturday 18 July – Monday 20 July
- Second Round: Tuesday 21 July – Wednesday 22 July
- Quarter-finals: Thursday 23 July – Friday 24 July
- Semi-finals: Saturday 25 July
- Final: Sunday evening, 26 July
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 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
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 |
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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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026