Schedule opening day World Seniors Matchplay 2024 with Martin Adams, Robert Thornton, John Part and John Henderson

Sixteen senior darters are in York, England, this weekend to compete for the title at the 2024 World Seniors Matchplay. The tournament begins Friday, and the first round will be completed.

It is the third time this WSDT tournament has been played. The World Seniors Matchplay first saw the light of day in 2022, when it was won by Robert Thornton, who was too strong for Phil Taylor in the final 12-10. In 2023, Leonard Gates became the winner of this tournament. The American won 9-6 over Jim McEwan in the final.

The field of participants for the World Seniors Matchplay consists of sixteen players. Thirteen players have been invited on a wildcard basis. In addition, one WSDT Order of Merit Qualifier and two winners of qualifying tournaments are also competing.

Former winner Robert Thornton, defending champion Leonard Gates and John Henderson are the most notable names. On the other hand, Phil Taylor and Jim McEwan are the most notable absentees.

Richie Howson is the only name in the field of competitors who has become best known for his successes on the World Seniors Darts Tour. The 58-year-old Englishman was never a high-flyer at the PDC or the BDO/WDF, but already reached three televised finals on the senior circuit. He lost the first two finals, but this year Howson did take the title at the Champion of Champions tournament.

Trina Gulliver is one of the most successful players in the history of women's darts. No one has won more television titles in women's tennis than "The Golden Girl. Ten world titles are to her name, as well as six World Masters titles and five Dutch Open titles.

Of course, Martin Adams will be there again this weekend. 'Wolfie' has been a regular on the World Seniors Darts Tour since its inception when major tournaments are organized. In recent seasons, Adams made it to the final of a WSDT televised tournament once. That was at the 2022 World Seniors Darts Championship, which he lost to Robert Thornton. However, the 68-year-old Englishman has won plenty of other titles in his career. Three BDO world titles, three World Masters titles and four Dutch Open titles are Adams' most notable achievements.

Matt Clark is also someone who has been around the darts circuit for decades. He played his first World Championship at Lakeside in 1996 and then managed to make it to the quarterfinals. That was also only the only time in 14 World Championship appearances that Clark made it past the second round at a World Championship.

Like Adams, Kevin Painter is always present at the WSDT's major televised tournaments. 'The Artist' especially created a furor at the PDC, where he reached the 2004 World Darts Championship final, losing to Phil Taylor after a sudden-death leg. Painter did, however, win the Players Championship Finals in 2011. In both 2022 and 2023, Painter made it to the semifinals at the World Seniors Darts Championship, the largest tournament on the World Seniors Darts Tour.

David Cameron did already achieve great success on the senior circuit. The Canadian surprisingly managed to win the World Seniors Darts Masters in 2022 by defeating Phil Taylor in the final.

The defending champion also begins his tournament on Friday afternoon. Leonard Gates won one of his three major WSDT titles in York last year. The American was the most dominant player on the tour last year, with further overall wins at the World Seniors Masters and the Champion of Champions tournament. Recently, Gates also secured participation in the PDC's World Darts Championship by winning the CDC ranking.

James Richardson qualified for this event through the qualifying tournament. The Englishman is best known for his victory over Raymond van Barneveld at the 2012 World Darts Championship. Six years later, Richardson reached the last sixteen at Alexandra Palace, a feat he repeated at Lakeside at the WDF World Championship in 2023. 

Robert Thornton is one of the big names at the WSDT's televised tournaments. 'The Thorn' became senior world champion in 2022 and 2023, while he also won the World Seniors Matchplay in 2022. At the PDC, Thornton also achieved success by winning the UK Open (2012) and World Grand Prix (2015).

John Part even became world champion twice with the PDC. After already becoming world champion with the BDO in 1994, he took the world title with the other association in 2003 and 2008. His World Cup final against Phil Taylor in 2003 entered the history books as one of the most legendary matches of all time. However, Part's best days are well behind him. On the World Seniors Darts Tour, there is often no more than a supporting role for Part.

One of the most interesting matches of this round. Neil Duff is best known for winning the WDF world title in 2022. The Northern Irishman then headed to the senior World Championship in 2023 with high hopes, but then lost in the quarter-finals to Robert Thornton.

Chris Mason had his greatest success at the turn of the century, reaching the semifinals at Lakeside in 1999 and 2000. However, that Mason can still throw a good dart proved 'The Ace' at this year's World Seniors Darts Championship, where Mason managed to reach the last eight.  

One of the big favorites at the World Seniors Matchplay is John Henderson. Although "The Highlander" no longer has a Tour Card, his active career is still in full swing. Henderson currently plays on the PDC Challenge Tour, and also plays regularly as a substitute on the PDC Pro Tour. He also participates in the MODUS Super Series and thus plays tournaments on the World Seniors Darts Tour. On this circuit, Henderson became senior world champion early this year.

Originally, Henderson was supposed to face 16-time world champion Phil Taylor in the first round of this tournament, but "The Power" had to cancel due to persistent hip problems. Crowd favorite Tony O'Shea was called up as a replacement. The 63-year-old Englishman has the 2012 Dutch Open as his biggest title on his record. O'Shea went on to reach seven major finals at the BDO, including three at Lakeside, but lost them all.

The last match of the first round is also a fun one. The always dangerous Paul Hogan then makes his appearance. 'Crocodile Dundee' also has a long career behind him. In 1995 he was a quarterfinalist at the BDO World Championship for the first time, a feat Hogan repeated in 2006 and 2020.

Lisa Ashton is the second female participant at the World Seniors Matchplay. With wins over Michael Huntley, Scott Mitchell and Chris Mason, Ashton made it to the semifinals at the World Seniors Darts Championship.

First round: Best of 15 legs

Quarterfinals: Best of 15 legs

Semifinals: Best of 17 legs

Final: Best of 17 legs

The World Seniors Matchplay will be televised live only in the United Kingdom. The broadcaster TNT Sports has acquired the rights to the event.

For darts fans outside the United Kingdom, an alternative has been found. They can follow the proceedings by subscribing to Discovery +.

Total prize money is £31,000. Each participant is guaranteed to receive £750 in starting money. Quarterfinalists will receive £1,250, semifinalists will receive £2,500, the runner-up will win £5,000, and the winner of the World Seniors Matchplay will go home with a sum of £10,000.

Richie Howson v Trina Gulliver

Martin Adams v Matt Clark

Kevin Painter v David Cameron

Leonard Gates v James Richardson

Robert Thornton v John Part

Neil Duff v Chris Mason

John Henderson v Tony O'Shea

Paul Hogan v Lisa Ashton