The World Matchplay returns to Blackpool for another year, marking its 31st instalment since the competition began in 1994. The World Matchplay is held in the Empress Ballroom. At Winter Gardens, in Blackpool. The top monetary prize is as big as £200,000, which will go to the winner of the final, alongside the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy.
When will the Betfred World Matchplay take place?
The Betfred World Matchplay will begin on the 13th of July, and the final will take place on the 21st of July, meaning that the tournament will last nine days in total.
Which players will feature at the event?
This year's Matchplay is set to be one of the highest quality lineups to date, with many of the world’s best players travelling to England to compete.
The biggest names in Darts will feature in Blackpool, with the new World Cup champions, Luke Humphries and Michael Smith featuring in front of what should be an electric crowd. Local fans will not only be looking ahead to a great evening of darts, but also a European final for the England men's team. The PDC have confirmed that they have altered the Sunday schedule in order to accommodate a viewing of the final inside the Winter Gardens.
Luke Humphries will headline the opening night, as will defending champion Nathan Aspinall, who will begin his defence when he plays against Luke Woodhouse on Saturday evening. Aspinall comes into the Matchplay with confidence after last year, saying that “Blackpool has always been a place where I’ve performed well”. He also recognises that the competition is “going to be difficult” but believes he “can win it again”, and create more special memories in Blackpool.
"I'm just so proud of myself" 🤩🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 23, 2023
Hear from your World Matchplay CHAMPION, Nathan Aspinall, after his incredible 18-6 victory over Jonny Clayton in a thrilling final here in Blackpool! pic.twitter.com/5wpYHGSghi
Luke Littler, who has quickly become a household name in the world of darts, will make his debut at a Betfred World Matchplay after winning three PDC ranking titles in 2024. His opening game is against the ever-present Michael van Gerwen, on Monday evening. Littler, who has won four of his nine meetings against MvG, admits that his opener is a “blockbuster first round tie”. He also notes that playing against MvG “brings the best'' out of him and that the pair “always have good games” against each other.
Other big names that will be at the Matchplay will be players such as; Gerwyn Price, Raymond van Barneveld, Stephen Bunting, Rob Cross, Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Damon Heta and Gary Anderson, amongst many other stars who will take to the stage in Blackpool.
Where will the Betfred World Matchplay be broadcast?
“The Betfred World Matchplay will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers)” (PDC).
Who is favourite to win the Betfred World Matchplay?
As per the official sponsor, Betfred, they are pricing Luke Humphries at 3/1 as tournament favourite. This is concurrent with the Englishman’s number one ranking in the PDC, and he will be very tough to beat at any stage of the competition.
The next in the line of favourites is Luke Littler, who is priced at 4/1 to win outright. Priced only just behind Humphries, he will more than likely be in the mix, come the end of the tournament.
The third favourite is priced at 15/2 and it’s the Welshman, Gerwyn Price. He has had some great moments at the World Matchplay, but perhaps the best of them all was his 9-dart checkout, at the 2022 World Matchplay.
🚨 PERFECTION FROM PRICE! 🚨
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 23, 2022
GERWYN PRICE HITS A NINE-DARTER AT THE @Betfred WORLD MATCHPLAY!
THE WINTER GARDENS HAS ERUPTED!#WMDarts | SF
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/OG0PxS3VoB
How much prize money is available at the Betfred World Matchplay?
The total amount of prize money available comes to a whopping £800,000, with the winner taking home £200,000 of the total. Compared with the very first World Matchplay in 1994, where the winner received (in comparison) a much smaller prize of £10,000!
There are plenty of incentives for players to get through every round nowadays, with the prize for reaching just the last 16 sat at a nice £15,000, and the quarter final at £30,000. Semi-finalists receive £50,000 and the runner-up gains a cool £100,000.
How did the players qualify for the Betfred World Matchplay?
With only 32 spots at the event available, the World Matchplay is known to be one of the more difficult to qualify for in the PDC’s calendar.
The 16 top players in the PDC Order of Merit are qualified automatically, alongside the next 16 on the PDC ProTour Order of Merit. After a specified date in June, the 32 players are decided and the lineup is confirmed.
Keep up to date with the action
As with all darts action, the PDC will be posting clips and updates to their social channels, specifically on X (formerly Twitter) on their account @OfficialPDC. Feel free to follow us on X as well, we can be reached @DoubleTopDart. Enjoy the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay!