Watching the World Matchplay Darts without Phil Taylor is still going to take some getting used to. That’s because you knew that when the PDC Tour was heading to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, Phil Taylor was most likely going to win the title there. The Power stepped away from his professional career with sixteen, yes sixteen titles at the tournament from seventeen appearances in the final.
Fittingly he retired by winning it in his last ever appearance in 2017 with a victory over Peter Wright. At the end of the day, it is now two years since Taylor last stepped out at the World Matchplay and we are still talking about him. But, the game has moved on, as do the fans and this year it will be Scotland’s Gary Anderson who will be stepping up to the oche to try and defend his title. You can see it all on Sky Sports from July 20th through 28th.
Can Anderson make it back to back titles?
Gary Anderson came through an epic match in the final twelve months ago against Mensur Suljovic. It turned out to be the longest ever Final in the World Matchplay too. Matches at the World Matchplay have to be won by two clear legs. So in the best of 35 final, not a big enough advantage had been gained by either so into extra legs it went. It was Anderson who hauled himself over the finish line with a 21-19 win. He ended with a lower three dart average in the final than his opponent did though.
Anderson could be just coming right back into form in time for a title defence. In the early stages of the calendar year, his old back problems were bothering him. So he took some time to get that sorted which meant that he withdraw from the Premier League campaign. After a couple of months out, he returned at the UK Open in early March and lost his first match there. But in June he teamed up with Peter Wright to win the World Cup for Scotland, then hit the quarterfinals of the US Darts Masters. The Flying Scotsman was then a round of sixteen finisher at the German Darts Masters. Anderson is 9/1 with leading bookies to defend his crown.
MVG aims to rock Blackpool for the third time
World Number One Michael van Gerwen is a two-time winner of the World Matchplay. Things haven’t gone his way in the last two editions though. In 2017 he was stopped in the quarterfinals and then last year he bombed in the first round. Last year Mighty Mike was in a duel against Dutch competitor Jeffrey de Zwaan and tumbled to a shock 10-6 defeat. That’s not something that you’ll see every day at the oche.
MVG is doing his usual thing of winning titles in 2019. The Dutchman can check off successful campaigns at the World Championships, the Premier League and the Masters as well. He did slip to a fourth-round defeat at the UK Open though. Any tournament that Van Gerwen enters, he is the one to beat. This one is no exception and he is at 6/5 to claim the tournament win.
Other key contenders for Blackpool 2019
The usual suspects are knocking around. Welshman Gerwyn Price has not produced much previous form at the World Matchplay. But he has been to the semi-final in half of his last six tournaments played this year. Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney has taken three straight quarterfinal exits in his last three tournaments. He was a losing semi-finalist two years ago at the World Matchplay though and was a semifinalist at this season’s Premier League of Darts.
James Wade has tournament history, being a former winner. His record is right up there in this tournament. He has been to six previous Finals in this competition, but unfortunately for him has only managed to win the one title. Performances in the last three season have dropped off from in him Blackpool however. England’s Rob Cross has been in good form this year. He’s been to the final of the UK Open, the European Darts Open and the Premier League. The leading bookmaker see him as the biggest challenger to Michael van Gerwen with Cross placed at 15/2
Sleeper Picks
There are a couple of names in this who will pique some interest. Michael Smith is a 22/1 outsider but will be heading to Blackpool in hot form having just finished as the runner up at the US Darts Masters. Smith has come to play in 2019. He reached the final of the World Championship this year as well as a quarter-final at the Masters and a semi at the UK Open. He’s never been past the second round of the World Matchplay though.
Peter Wright is an interesting one. The Scotsman did pick up the World Cup title this year along with Gary Anderson. As for individual tournament form, it’s been a while since he threatened for a title. However, looking at his performances in the last four editions of the World Matchplay, a quarter-final, two semi-finals and a runner up, he’s been knocking on the door. Maybe a trip to the seaside will give him the jolt he needs to get himself going again.
Can Duzza do it for the first time?
One of the biggest buzzes this year on the PDC has been about Glen Durrant the three-time (and still current) reigning BDO World Champion. He got through Q-School for the PDC and has won a couple of PDC titles this year, both Players Championship events on the PDC Pro Tour. Duzza is still working his way up the ranks in the PDC and will take on the World Matchplay for the first time. He is capable of beating the best and took out Van Gerwen on the way to one of his titles in 2019. Can he string a title-winning run together in the North West? Leading bookmakers have him out as a 33/1 odds option.
Summary
This is one of the greatest darts tournaments out there for the sheer brilliance of atmosphere. There have been so many highlights at the Winter Gardens down the years. Great questions are waiting to be answered this year like will Michael van Gerwen bust his barren streak at the tournament? What can Glen Durrant get up to? Is Anderson past his back troubles well enough to defend his ground? All will be revealed in the week concluding with the final on July 28th.
