As the summer sun casts its glow over Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, the darts world turns its eyes to the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay, a cornerstone of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) calendar. From July 19 to July 27, 32 of the sport’s elite, including teenage sensation Luke Littler and reigning champion Luke Humphries, will vie for the prestigious Phil Taylor Trophy and a share of the £800,000 prize fund. This nine-day spectacle, steeped in history and drama, promises fierce competition, electric atmospheres, and the chance for a new chapter to be written in darts’ storied legacy. “I’m over the moon to put my name on it,” Humphries said after his 2024 triumph, a sentiment every contender hopes to echo.
Since its inception in 1994, when Larry Butler claimed the inaugural title, the World Matchplay has been a proving ground for darts’ greatest talents. Held annually at the Empress Ballroom, it’s one of the PDC’s Triple Crown events, alongside the World Championship and Premier League. The tournament’s unique legs-only format, requiring players to win by two clear legs, adds a layer of tension. First-round matches are first to 10 legs, escalating to 18 legs in the final. If a two-leg lead isn’t secured after six extra legs, a sudden-death leg decides the outcome—for example, a first-round tie at 12-12 triggers a 25th-leg decider. This format has produced iconic moments, like Phil Taylor’s 2002 nine-darter, the first televised live in the UK, and Humphries’ 2024 victory, where he averaged over 100 across all rounds, a feat only Taylor had achieved before. “I feel very privileged to hold this trophy,” Humphries reflected, underscoring its prestige.
The 2025 tournament kicks off on July 19, with evening sessions starting at 7:00 PM BST from July 19-23, and an additional afternoon session on July 20 at 1:00 PM. After the second round, evening sessions shift to 8:00 PM. The semi-finals unfold on July 26, followed by the men’s and women’s finals on July 27, with the Women’s World Matchplay, featuring stars like Beau Greaves, starting at 1:00 PM. Fans can follow every dart live on Sky Sports in the UK, with international coverage via DAZN, Viaplay, and PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). Radio coverage returns on talkSPORT2, amplifying the excitement. “The World Matchplay has always had a special place in most darts players’ hearts,” Taylor once said, a sentiment echoed by the passionate crowds packing the Winter Gardens.
The £800,000 prize fund fuels the competition, with the champion pocketing £200,000, the runner-up earning £100,000, semi-finalists £50,000, quarter-finalists £30,000, second-round losers £15,000, and first-round exits £10,000. Named after Taylor, who won 16 titles, including seven consecutive from 2008-2014, the Phil Taylor Trophy is a symbol of excellence. Littler, who fell 10-6 to Michael van Gerwen in his 2024 debut, is hungry for redemption. “It’s going to be a completely new experience for myself on debut,” he said last year, and with titles like the 2025 World Championship under his belt, he’s a favorite. Humphries, aiming to join Taylor as a back-to-back winner, faces stiff competition from Van Gerwen, a three-time champion, and others like Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall.
The Women’s World Matchplay, now in its fourth year, adds to the drama, with Greaves defending her 2023 and 2024 crowns. “Can Luke Humphries and Beau Greaves retain their titles?” asked a recent post on X, capturing the anticipation. With nine nine-darters in the tournament’s history and 142 match averages over 100, the World Matchplay is a stage for brilliance. As Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom lights up, fans await the next legend to etch their name alongside Taylor’s.
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