The darting world is buzzing with anticipation as the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay descends on Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens from July 19 to July 27. This prestigious tournament, one of the Professional Darts Corporation’s (PDC) Triple Crown events alongside the World Championship and Premier League, promises nine days of electrifying action. With a £1,000,000 prize fund and the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy at stake, world number one Luke Humphries aims to defend his title, while teenage sensation Luke Littler makes his eagerly awaited debut. A star-studded field of 32 players, including Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, and Nathan Aspinall, will battle for supremacy in the Empress Ballroom, where the electric atmosphere is unmatched in darts.
The draw for the 2025 World Matchplay pits the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit against 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit. Defending champion Humphries, fresh off his 2024 triumph over van Gerwen in a thrilling 18-15 final, faces a first-round clash with Stephen Bunting, a former BDO champion and 2025 Premier League wildcard. “I’m ready to defend my crown,” Humphries declared, exuding confidence after his stellar 2024 season, which saw him become only the second player after Phil Taylor to average over 100 in all five matches en route to the title. Meanwhile, Littler, the 2025 PDC World Champion, takes on three-time Matchplay winner van Gerwen in a blockbuster first-round encounter on July 21. “It’s going to be a completely new experience for myself on debut, but I can’t wait to get on that Winter Gardens stage,” Littler said, relishing the challenge of facing van Gerwen, who he believes brings out his best.
The tournament’s format is a hallmark of its intensity, played in a legs-based structure with a unique “two clear legs” rule. First-round matches are best of 19 legs, requiring a player to win by at least two legs (e.g., 10-8). If the score is tied after six extra legs (e.g., 12-12), a sudden-death leg decides the winner. The rounds progress as follows: second round (best of 21 legs), quarter-finals (best of 31 legs), semi-finals (best of 33 legs), and the final (best of 35 legs). This format ensures dramatic finishes, as seen in past marathons like the 1994 second-round clash between Jim Watkins and Keith Deller, which stretched to 18-16. The 2013 rule change introducing sudden-death legs, first used in 2018 when Kim Huybrechts defeated John Henderson 13-12, has added even more suspense to close contests.
The £1,000,000 prize fund, a significant increase from the £42,400 offered in 1994, underscores the event’s prestige. The winner will claim £225,000, the runner-up £125,000, semi-finalists £65,000 each, quarter-finalists £35,000, last 16 losers £22,500, and last 32 losers £12,500. This lucrative payout reflects the tournament’s status as a pinnacle of the sport, with only 13 different winners in its 31-year history. Phil Taylor’s 16 titles dominate the record books, followed by van Gerwen’s three and Rod Harrington’s two. Humphries, who joined the elite list in 2024 alongside legends like Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, aims to become the first player since Taylor to win consecutive Matchplays.
Littler’s debut adds intrigue to an already stacked field. The 18-year-old, who broke records with a 140.91 set average at the 2025 World Championship, faces a daunting path. A potential second-round matchup against Joe Cullen or Brendan Dolan awaits the winner of his clash with van Gerwen. “Playing Michael – I know I bring the best out of him, and he brings the best out of me,” Littler said, referencing their epic 2025 World Championship final, where he triumphed 7-3. Other notable first-round ties include 2023 champion Aspinall against Luke Woodhouse, 2018 winner Rob Cross versus Ryan Searle, and Gerwyn Price taking on Daryl Gurney. The women’s event, running concurrently, sees Beau Greaves defending her 2024 title.
Broadcast live on Sky Sports, the tournament kicks off on July 19 with four first-round matches, continuing through July 21. The second round spans July 22-23, quarter-finals July 24-25, semi-finals July 26, and the final on July 27. The Winter Gardens’ steamy atmosphere, often reaching 90°F, tests players’ endurance, adding to the drama. With Humphries chasing history, Littler aiming to conquer Blackpool, and veterans like van Gerwen hungry for redemption, the 2025 World Matchplay promises to be a thrilling chapter in darts’ storied legacy.
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