Peter Wright won his first match at the World Matchplay. The Scot, who is experiencing a disappointing season, triumphed 10-4 against Andrew Gilding.
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The number two seed is keen to get a good result in Blackpool. Wright won the tournament two years ago, meaning he must defend the prize money he won in that edition this year. 'Snakebite' was given few chances for another title prior to the tournament because of his mediocre form.
Wright's play was not scintillating Monday night, but with an average of 96 and a 33 percent finish percentage, he at least scored an adequate one.
Wright fell behind 0-2 early in the match, but then picked up five legs in a row by throwing out 107, 104 and 146. He then went on to take an 8-2 lead. Gilding narrowed the gap to 9-4, but then Wright finished with a 16-darter.
Where can I watch the World Matchplay on TV?
The tournament will be broadcast in full on Sky Sports going between Action and Main Event.
From Saturday, July 15 through Wednesday, July 20, broadcasts will begin around 7 p.m. ET. In addition, on Sunday, July 16, there will be an afternoon session starting at 1 p.m. After the second round, the starting time of the evening sessions moves up one hour.
On Sunday afternoon, July 24, the second edition of the Women's World Matchplay is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm. Here, eight ladies will compete for the title at the most important women's tournament in the PDC.
How much prize money can be earned at the World Matchplay
After the World Darts Championship, the World Matchplay is the ranking tournament with the largest prize pool at the PDC. A total of 800,000 pounds of prize money is up for grabs at this event.
All 32 participants are guaranteed £10,000 in prize money. This could eventually add up to a check of as much as £200,000 for the darter who gets to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy on Sunday, July 23.
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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.
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STRONG START FROM SNAKEBITE! 🐍
Peter Wright begins his bid for a second World Matchplay title with a 10-4 thumping of Andrew Gilding.
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