Established in 1994, the PDC’s World Matchplay is one of their longest-running tournaments and ranks as the third most prestigious tournament in the Darts Calendar.
The tournament takes place over two weekends in July, where the top players compete for a share of the prize money. Since its launch, the World Matchplay has been held in the Empress Ballroom of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens each year.
Match Format
The field of 32 players is made up of the best 16 players in the PDC Order of Merit and the best 16 players on the ProTour Order of Merit who have not already qualified via the PDC Order of Merit.
The 16 top-seeded players from the PDC Order of Merit are paired up against the 16 unseeded qualifiers from the ProTour event.
In the first round, matches are determined by 10 legs. For second-rounds, it is increased to 11, while quarterfinals must achieve 16, semifinals 17, and finals 18.
All matches must be won through two decisive legs, but if necessary, a match can be extended for up to six extra legs before a tie-breaker leg is needed. As an example, in the first round of a best-of-10 legs game, upon reaching 12–12 then, the 25th leg will become the decider.
World Matchplay Darts Prize Money
The total prize money for the event is £800,000. The winner walks away from hockey with £200,000 in prize money. The runner-up pockets £100,000, and third and fourth-place finishers get £50,000 each.
Quarter-finalists are given £30,000 each, and the second-round losers take home £15,000. The prize money for the first-round losers is £10,000.
Odds & Betting
World Matchplay darts odds are available from the usual bookmakers. However, as the prime sponsor of the event is Betfred, you will likely find the best darts odds if you choose to place your darts bets with them.
Betfred usually has the odds on the top players months before the event, giving savvy punters the chance to get the best odds before they become shorter closer to the tournament.
You can bet on who you think will win the tournament outright, with each way bets paying out on 1st and 2nd place finishers. Along with outright bets, you can also take a punt on the total number of 180s scored.
Betfred has a generous welcome offer for new customers; details are below.
Tickets For World Matchplay Darts
Tickets for the World Matchplay Darts are in high demand, so make sure you purchase yours as soon as possible. Prices for the event vary greatly depending on which session you wish to attend. Early round tickets in the standing area can be purchased for around £30, and table tickets will set you back around £45.
Premium seating and VIP packages are also available for those wanting a more luxurious darts experience. All packages can be purchased through the PDC website, where more information can also be found.
With some of darts’ best players competing in this exciting tournament, tickets are sure to sell out quickly! Don’t miss your chance to witness darts history and book your World Matchplay Darts tickets today.
World Matchplay Darts Blackpool
The World Matchplay darts tournament is held in Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Guests can enjoy plenty of darts action whilst experiencing all that the historic city has to offer.
Blackpool attracts millions of tourists each year, with its Pleasure Beach, Tower, and a variety of pubs and attractions all making it one of the most popular destinations in England. The darts weekend provides a great opportunity to experience all that Blackpool has to offer and enjoy some darts at the same time!
Where To Watch?
The event is broadcast across the globe, with major darts broadcasters such as Sky Sports, Fox Sports, and Eurosport covering the action.
In addition to watching the television coverage, darts fans can also follow all the action on Livesport.com where you will find brackets, fixtures, live scores, and results, as well as additional information such as head-to-head stats and odds.
So, darts fans, make sure you don’t miss a second of the action and follow all the latest news and information on Livesport.com.
World Matchplay Darts 2023
The 2023 World Matchplay darts tournament promises to be an exciting event for darts fans. The action starts on Saturday, 15th July 2023, with the first darts being thrown at 19.00.
The current favourite with the bookies is Michael van Gerwen (11/4), followed by Michael Smith on 4/1, then Gerwyn Price on 8/1.
The darts tournament is sure to be a thrilling spectacle, and darts fans should make sure they don’t miss out on the action of the World Matchplay darts tournament 2023! Make sure you get your tickets, watch the coverage, or follow Livesport.com for updated information.