Get ready for the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay, taking place from July 19 to 27 at the historic Winter Gardens in Blackpool. This exciting event promises thrilling encounters in both men’s and women’s tournaments, all airing live on Sky Sports.
Defending champion Luke Humphries, who claimed the Phil Taylor Trophy last year, is set to kick off his title defense against Gian van Veen, the current World Youth Champion, on Saturday. Meanwhile, rising star and reigning World Champion, Luke Littler, will make his appearance on Sunday, facing off against Ryan Searle, a quarter-finalist from the previous year.
In an exciting matchup, Dutch legends Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld are poised to clash in Blackpool on Monday. Van Gerwen, aiming for his fourth World Matchplay title after finishing as runner-up to Humphries last year, will face Van Barneveld, who was a runner-up at this event in 2010.
Other notable matches include former finalist Jonny Clayton starting against Martin Schindler, and fourth seed Stephen Bunting clashing with Ryan Joyce, as they revisit their first-round encounter from last year. New champion Nathan Aspinall will take on Wessel Nijman, while former winners Rob Cross and Peter Wright are set to challenge Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena, respectively. Moreover, 2018 champion Gary Anderson will meet Luke Woodhouse for a shot at the last 16.
On his 20th consecutive World Matchplay appearance, five-time runner-up James Wade will compete against 2023 semi-finalist Joe Cullen, making for yet another thrilling highlight of the tournament.
World Matchplay Date and Venue
The 2025 World Matchplay will run from July 19-27 at Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens. The tournament features a strong lineup of 32 players, competing for a substantial £200,000 grand prize. The opening round includes the top 16 players seeded against the 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Rankings.
Throughout this nine-day festival of darts, £800,000 in total prize money is up for grabs, along with the prestigious Phil Taylor Trophy, all broadcasted live on Sky Sports.
Notable Competitors in the Men’s Event
Humphries takes the spotlight on Saturday’s opening night along with former champions Aspinall and Wade. On Sunday, Littler will be joined in action by notable players such as Bunting, Clayton, Cross, and Anderson, all leading up to Monday’s closing of the first round when Van Gerwen and Price enter the competition.
First-Round Draw:
- Luke Humphries (1) vs Gian van Veen
- Danny Noppert (16) vs Cameron Menzies
- Nathan Aspinall (8) vs Wessel Nijman
- James Wade (9) vs Joe Cullen
- Stephen Bunting (4) vs Ryan Joyce
- Gary Anderson (13) vs Luke Woodhouse
- Jonny Clayton (5) vs Martin Schindler
- Dave Chisnall (12) vs Mike De Decker
- Luke Littler (2) vs Ryan Searle
- Peter Wright (15) vs Jermaine Wattimena
- Damon Heta (7) vs Andrew Gilding
- Rob Cross (10) vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Michael van Gerwen (3) vs Raymond van Barneveld
- Ross Smith (14) vs Josh Rock
- Chris Dobey (6) vs Ricardo Pietreczko
- Gerwyn Price (11) vs Daryl Gurney
What to Expect in the Format?
The World Matchplay features a legs format, with the number of required legs increasing through rounds:
- Round 1: First to 10 legs (sudden death at 12-12)
- Round 2: First to 11 legs (sudden death at 13-13)
- Quarter-Finals: First to 16 legs (sudden death at 18-18)
- Semi-Finals: First to 17 legs (sudden death at 19-19)
- Final: First to 18 legs (sudden death at 20-20)
Prize Fund Overview
The stakes are high with a total prize fund of £800,000:
- Winner: £200,000
- Runner-Up: £100,000
- Semi-Finalists: £50,000
- Quarter-Finalists: £30,000
- Second Round Losers: £15,000
- First Round Losers: £10,000
The Women’s World Matchplay
On July 27, the women’s Matchplay will also air live on Sky Sports, featuring eight of the top female players. Defending champion Beau Greaves returns to compete against tough contenders including Fallon Sherrock and Lisa Ashton. The matchups include the following quarter-finals:
- Beau Greaves vs Kirski Viinikainen
- Lisa Ashton vs Robyn Byrne
- Noa-Lynn van Leuven vs Lorraine Winstanley
- Fallon Sherrock vs Gemma Hayter
Winners’ History
Initially won by Fallon Sherrock in 2022, Greaves secured the title in 2023 and 2024, further establishing herself as a formidable force in women’s darts.
The World Matchplay has a dynamic format for its rounds:
- Quarter-Finals: Best of seven legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of nine legs
- Final: Best of eleven legs
Join us for an action-packed showcase of darts and witness the thrills of the World Matchplay live from Blackpool.