The Winter Gardens in Blackpool is set to ignite with darting drama as the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay, one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments, kicks off on July 19 and runs through July 27. This 32nd edition of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) event brings together 32 of the world’s top players, with defending champion Luke Humphries and teenage sensation Luke Littler headlining a field brimming with talent. With a £200,000 top prize and the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy at stake, the iconic Empress Ballroom will host nine days of high-stakes battles, culminating in a thrilling final that promises to captivate fans worldwide, all broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Humphries, the world No. 1, enters as the defending champion after his 2024 triumph over Michael van Gerwen, a victory that saw him become only the fourth player to win both the World Championship and World Matchplay in the same year. His first-round matchup against rising Dutch star Gian van Veen, the World Youth Champion, sets the tone for a challenging title defense. “I feel very privileged to hold this trophy with so many great players,” Humphries said after last year’s win, emphasizing the emotional weight of lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy. His consistency is unmatched, having averaged over 100 in all five matches in 2024, a feat only previously achieved by the legendary Taylor. With a favorable draw keeping him away from Littler until the later stages, Humphries is priced at 7/2 to go back-to-back, but Van Veen’s recent 8-3 win over him at Players Championship 6 suggests a potential upset.
Littler, the 18-year-old “Nuke,” is the 7/4 favorite to claim his first World Matchplay title, fresh off his 2025 World Championship victory, where he became the youngest PDC world champion at 17 years and 347 days. His first-round clash against Ryan Searle on July 20 is a chance to erase the memory of last year’s opening-round loss to Van Gerwen. “It’s going to be a completely new experience for myself on debut, but I’ve been putting the practice in, and I can’t wait to get on that Winter Gardens stage,” Littler said. Known for his rapid scoring and pinpoint double-10 finishes, Littler has dominated Searle in their three previous televised encounters. A win could set up a second-round meeting with Peter Wright or Jermaine Wattimena, keeping him on a collision course with heavyweights like Van Gerwen or Gerwyn Price in the bottom half of the draw.
The tournament’s opening weekend is packed with mouthwatering matchups. On July 19, Humphries faces Van Veen, while Nathan Aspinall, the 2023 champion, takes on debutant Wessel Nijman. Sunday’s double session features Littler, alongside Stephen Bunting versus Ryan Joyce, Jonny Clayton against Martin Schindler, and Gary Anderson facing Luke Woodhouse. Monday’s highlight is a Dutch blockbuster between three-time champion Michael van Gerwen and five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld. “It looks a cracking draw, especially the battle of the Dutch World Champions,” noted one observer, capturing the excitement around this clash. Van Gerwen, a 16/1 shot, is hungry for a fourth Matchplay title after falling to Humphries in last year’s final, where he missed crucial doubles. “I know what I’m capable of and need to put Luke Humphries in his place,” he declared in 2024, a sentiment that carries into this year’s campaign.
The format escalates the drama: first-round matches are best of 19 legs, second round best of 21, quarter-finals best of 31, semi-finals best of 33, and the final best of 35, with each match requiring a two-leg advantage. The £800,000 prize fund rewards semi-finalists with £50,000, quarter-finalists with £30,000, and second-round losers with £15,000, ensuring fierce competition. Notable absences include 2023 world champion Michael Smith, who failed to qualify for the first time since 2013, alongside Dimitri Van den Bergh, who hit a nine-darter in 2024, and Ritchie Edhouse. Debutants Cameron Menzies and Nijman add fresh intrigue, while veterans like James Wade, making his 20th consecutive appearance, and Gerwyn Price, facing World Cup champion Daryl Gurney, aim to upset the favorites.
The Women’s World Matchplay, featuring defending champion Beau Greaves against Kirsi Viinikainen, will share the spotlight on July 27, adding to the festival atmosphere. Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, a darting mecca since 1994, has hosted iconic moments—like Taylor’s 2002 televised nine-darter and Anderson’s dramatic 2018 title win. With Littler’s meteoric rise and Humphries’ relentless form, the 2025 edition could produce another classic. “Darts has gone crazy. You wouldn’t believe the difference since young Luke came along,” Taylor himself remarked, underscoring Littler’s impact. As the oche heats up, fans eagerly await whether Humphries can cement his dominance or if Littler will add another major to his growing legacy.
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