The World MatchPlay is an annual professional darts tournament which is held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. It is organised by the PDC, and has taken place every single year since 1994.
It is one of biggest darts events on the sporting calendar, and is one of the few major tournaments to take place during the summer months.
The tournament is the viewed as the final leg of ‘Darts Triple Crown’, with players vying to win the World Darts Championship, the Premier League and the World MatchPlay. This feat was acheived in 2018 by Gary Anderson. He became just the third player to do so.
Only eight players have ever won the World MatchPlay despite 24 stagings of the event. Phil Taylor dominated the tournament, and won it on 16 times in total. His last victory arrived in 2017 shortly before his retirement from the sport. Other notable players to have won the event include Colin Lloyd, Michael Van Gerwen and Rod Harrington. In 2002, Taylor hit the first televised nine-darter at this tournament. John Part and Raymond Van Barneveld have also hit nine-darters at this event.
Phil Taylor is also responsible for the highest one-match average at the tournament, hitting 114.99 against Barrie Bates in 2010.
James Wade has appeared in the final on six different occasions, but he’s only been victorious at the tournament once.
The Winter Gardens is an iconic venue in the North West of England, and sports fans regularly flock to the seaside town to enjoy a weekend of top-class darts.
The format of the World MatchPlay has remained fairly consistent over the years, although there have been tweaks to the scoring and length of games over the past few years. In 1994, it was first to eight legs in the opening round, but this has since been increased to first to ten. The final has also been extended, and is now first to eighteen legs. Players must also win the match by two clear legs in order to progress to the next round.
There is a sudden death rule, which was introduced in 2013, but it wasn’t used until 2018, when John Henderson and Kim Huybrechts couldn’t be separated. It ended 13-12 to the Belgian.
The current format has been in existence since 2016.
There is currently £700,000 in prizes to be won at the World MatchPlay. The winner will take home £150,000 whilst the runner-up will bag £70,000 for making it to the final two.
The top 16 players in the rankings will automatically be seeded for the event. 16 Pro Tour players will need to qualify for the event, and these will be unseeded.
When and Where?
The tournament is held at the iconic Winter Gardens, which is located in Blackpool. It typically takes place in July, usually towards the end of the month. In 2019, it will be held between the 20th and 28th of the month. This includes qualifying.
Why is the World MatchPlay So Popular?
The tournament’s position in the calendar is part of the reason for its success. There are very few high-profile darts events taking place in the summer months, and it has been a couple of months since the Premier League concluded. It’s also a chance for fans to spend a summer weekend by the sea.
From a sporting perspective, it attracts all of the top PDC players, and it’s always an event that every player wants to win. There is always plenty of prize money available, and therefore it’s always a decent watch.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
There are plenty of betting opportunities available for the tournament. Outside of the World Championships and the Premier League, it is one of the most popular darts events on the calendar from a punting perspective.
There are ante-post markets, which are usually priced up within a week of the tournament getting underway. There are also match-by-match markets available, whilst in-play betting is rife throughout the seven days.
Key Betting Markets
Tournament Outright – This is the most popular way of betting on the World MatchPlay. Punters must predict which player will come out on top. The chosen player must be victorious in the final in order to secure a pay-out. In recent years, this has been a fairly straightforward process, but since Phil Taylor’s retirement, the field is far more open, and the betting reflects that.
E/W Outright – There is also each-way betting available on the tournament outright, and this will pay out if your chosen player reaches the final. Even if they are defeated in the showpiece event, it will be paid out at 1/2 the odds. This is ideal for bigger priced players.
To Reach the Semi-Finals/Quarter Finals etc – Some bookmakers will now offer additional markets to sit alongside the tournament outright betting. These may include predicting a player to make to the final four or final eight. This is ideal for those who fancy an up-and-coming player to exceed expectations.
To Win Match – Throughout the tournament, there will be match-by-match betting available. Some of the prices are often prohibitive, but many punters opt to place multiple matches in a tournament accumulator. Players will need to win the match, and qualify for the next round of the tournament in order for punters to receive a payout.
Total 180s – There will be multiple match-markets available, but the 180s are often hugely popular with punters. This is predicting how many 180s will be thrown throughout the contest. One of the reasons why this market is hugely popular as it eliminates the prospect of predicting the outcome of the match. Two big-throwing players or a match which is likely to go the distance are ideal for this market.
To Hit the Most 180s – Similar to the above market. This is predicting which of the two players will hit the most 180s during the game itself. Better players do not neccessarily hit more 180s. Phil Taylor would routinely aim for treble 19 during the latter stages of his career, and rarely won the 180s battle.
Highest Checkout – Hitting your checkouts is vitally important, and every player will be hoping for a 170 checkout. But these are very few and far between. It is possible to bet on which player will achieve the highest match checkout during the match.
Highest 3-Dart Average – Players will maintain an average throughout the game, and this market allows punters to predict which player will have the highest numbers. Typically the winning player will throw the highest average although this isn’t a given. A player may have a high average, but fail to land their doubles and lose the match.
Handicap Markets – Like all sports, the handicap markets are a very handy way of getting involved in seemingly one-sided contests. These allow the underdog a head start (+2.5 legs for example) or give the odds-on favourite a handicap to overcome. These are ideal for the first round of the tournament.
Bull Finish – This is simply predicting whether a player will end a leg with a bull finish. This isn’t as common as it sounds, and depending on the players involved, big prices are often available.
170 Finish? – Again, big prices available for players who complete a 170 checkout. This is the maxiumum checkout available, and is relatively rare under the lights. Players such as Michael Van Gerwen do hit them occasionally, and although it is a leap of faith, it can be hugely rewarding for punters who keep the faith.
Nine Darter? – This is another big priced selection. Nine darters aren’t particularly common, although this the Blackpool crowd has witnessed a few of them over the years. Can a player checkout using just nine darts? These are always greeted enthusiastically by the crowd.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the World MatchPlay
Explore Other Markets – This may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but it often pays to scour the bookies offerings before settling on a selection. Match prices can be hugely prohibitive, and if you’re looking for a single wager, then it’s best to look elsewhere. Whether it’s backing a player to hit ‘Over X 180s’, or have an average of ‘Over X’, these are excellent ways of finding a little more value.
Previous Tournament Record – As we’ve only seen eight different winners of this tournament, it is evident that the World MatchPlay isn’t favoured by every single player on the tour. Players who’ve progressed to the latter stages in previous years may be worth considering next time out. in 2019, Gary Anderson is likely to be coming off the back of an injury lay-off, and it may pay to look elsewhere in the outright market.
Plot the Route of Each Player – Once the draw has been made, it is advised to work out how each player can reach the final. Avoid backing players who will meet tough opponents before the quarter-final stage. Top players will sometimes get lucky, and be drawn on a seemingly simpler side of the draw. These could be ones to keep an eye on. If you can get in there before the prices shorten – even better!
Big Crowds Can Play Their Part – It is always a terrific atmosphere at the Winter Gardens, and the crowd can be overbearing to those players who haven’t experienced before. First timers are unlikely to go all the way, and those who lack the big-match experience may struggle to concentrate on their game as a result. It’s best to back players who have either played here before, or those who are more accustomed to potential distractions.
Where Can I watch the World MatchPlay in the UK?
UK darts fans can enjoy all of the action from the PDC World Matchplay on Sky Sports. They will be broadcasting the entire tournament once again in 2019.
