World Matchplay 2025 - Preview
The 2025 Betfred World Matchplay gets underway on Saturday, as Luke Humphries chases back-to-back titles in the showpiece event of the darting summer.
The latest edition of the 800,000 pound event will see reigning champion Humphries headlining a star-studded 32-player field at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, which also includes seven other World Champions. Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and a revitalised Gerwyn Price will also be amongst the stars in action at the Empress Ballroom, as the sport's biggest names compete across nine days of action from July 19-27.
The first round will see the world's top 16 players pitted against the top 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Rankings, with Humphries set to take on World Youth Champion Gian van Veen in a fascinating clash. Humphries averaged over 100 in all five matches as he won the 2024 World Matchplay title - becoming only the second player, behind Phil Taylor, to achieve that feat.
"I felt like you saw the best version of me in Blackpool last year," said Humphries, who is aiming to emulate Rod Harrington, Taylor and Van Gerwen by retaining the Phil Taylor Trophy.
"I've joined so many exclusive clubs over the last few years, and I would love to join another exclusive club by going back-to-back.
"Gian is an absolutely fantastic player and one of the best up-and-coming talents in the game. He's a had great year so far, and I'm sure he's going to provide a tough task for myself.
"I feel like I'm good at finding the right things at the right time in games, and I feel like I'll have to do the same again on Saturday, because I don't think I've been at my brilliant best recently."
Humphries succeeded Nathan Aspinall in becoming World Matchplay champion 12 months ago, and the Stockport star opens his title challenge against Dutch debutant Wessel Nijman on a bumper opening night in Blackpool. 2007 champion James Wade - also a five-time runner-up from 19 World Matchplay challenges - will play former Masters champion Joe Cullen in the tournament's opening clash, while 2022 semi-finalist Danny Noppert meets debutant Cameron Menzies in Saturday's other contest.
Sunday's bumper double session will see former World Matchplay winners Rob Cross, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson in action, as World Champion Littler sets his sights on a first victory on the iconic Blackpool stage.
Littler lost to Van Gerwen on his World Matchplay debut last year, but has moved up to second on Werner Rankings Ladder by continuing his remarkable rise to stardom since.
"Obviously my debut didn't go to plan last year, but I'm very happy to be back," claimed Littler, the 2/1 pre-tournament favourite with title sponsor Betfred. "The arena itself and the amount of history behind it; it's a special venue for us as dart players, so I just want to win my first game there, and we'll see how I go from there. "I would say it's been an up and down season for myself, but now I'm fully focused on the World Matchplay, and hopefully I can go all the way. "I know I'm World Champion and world number two, but I still get a buzz playing these top players."
Australian number one Damon Heta will kick off Sunday afternoon's action against 2024 quarter-finalist Andrew Gilding, as World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker makes his Winter Gardens return against five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall. Cross and Wright - the winners in 2019 and 2021 respectively - face Dutch duo Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena, before 2018 champion Anderson kicks off the evening's proceedings against Luke Woodhouse. Elsewhere, Stephen Bunting and Ryan Joyce renew their Winter Gardens rivalry after meeting at the same stage last year, while 2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton locks horns with German number one Martin Schindler.
The first round concludes with a blockbuster line-up on Monday evening, as three-time winner Van Gerwen takes on 2010 runner-up Raymond van Barneveld in a huge all-Dutch clash. Sixth seed Chris Dobey gets his campaign underway with a tie against German number two Ricardo Pietreczko, before Northern Ireland's World Cup champions Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock enter the fray.
Gurney - a two-time semi-finalist in Blackpool - plays 2022 runner-up Gerwyn Price for the second straight year, while Rock faces former European Champion Ross Smith in another repeat showdown from 2024.
"I just laughed when the draw came out - it's deja-vu!" added Rock, who is bidding to break new ground as he embarks on his third Blackpool appearance.
"Hopefully this time around I come out as the winner, but it should be a fantastic game regardless.
"I'm confident in my own game. I still haven't won a game at the World Matchplay before, but it's only my third appearance there.
"I've always said it's a marathon not a sprint. It will be a stepping stone if I can get that first win, and then I believe I'll be able to push on."
Following the completion of the first round, the second round will take place on Tuesday July 22 and Wednesday July 23, with the quarter-finals staged on Thursday July 24 and Friday July 25. The semi-finals will be held on Saturday July 26, before the final takes place on the evening of Sunday July 27, following the fourth edition of the Betfred Women's World Matchplay.
Littler is the 2/1 pre-tournament favourite with title sponsor Betfred, ahead of his great rival Humphries at 4/1. Price and Rock are priced at 8/1 and 14/1 respectively, with Van Gerwen and Anderson currently 18/1 to repeat former glories at the Winter Gardens.
The latest edition of the 800,000 pound event will see reigning champion Humphries headlining a star-studded 32-player field at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, which also includes seven other World Champions. Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and a revitalised Gerwyn Price will also be amongst the stars in action at the Empress Ballroom, as the sport's biggest names compete across nine days of action from July 19-27.
The first round will see the world's top 16 players pitted against the top 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Rankings, with Humphries set to take on World Youth Champion Gian van Veen in a fascinating clash. Humphries averaged over 100 in all five matches as he won the 2024 World Matchplay title - becoming only the second player, behind Phil Taylor, to achieve that feat.
"I felt like you saw the best version of me in Blackpool last year," said Humphries, who is aiming to emulate Rod Harrington, Taylor and Van Gerwen by retaining the Phil Taylor Trophy.
"I've joined so many exclusive clubs over the last few years, and I would love to join another exclusive club by going back-to-back.
"Gian is an absolutely fantastic player and one of the best up-and-coming talents in the game. He's a had great year so far, and I'm sure he's going to provide a tough task for myself.
"I feel like I'm good at finding the right things at the right time in games, and I feel like I'll have to do the same again on Saturday, because I don't think I've been at my brilliant best recently."
Humphries succeeded Nathan Aspinall in becoming World Matchplay champion 12 months ago, and the Stockport star opens his title challenge against Dutch debutant Wessel Nijman on a bumper opening night in Blackpool. 2007 champion James Wade - also a five-time runner-up from 19 World Matchplay challenges - will play former Masters champion Joe Cullen in the tournament's opening clash, while 2022 semi-finalist Danny Noppert meets debutant Cameron Menzies in Saturday's other contest.
Sunday's bumper double session will see former World Matchplay winners Rob Cross, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson in action, as World Champion Littler sets his sights on a first victory on the iconic Blackpool stage.
Littler lost to Van Gerwen on his World Matchplay debut last year, but has moved up to second on Werner Rankings Ladder by continuing his remarkable rise to stardom since.
"Obviously my debut didn't go to plan last year, but I'm very happy to be back," claimed Littler, the 2/1 pre-tournament favourite with title sponsor Betfred. "The arena itself and the amount of history behind it; it's a special venue for us as dart players, so I just want to win my first game there, and we'll see how I go from there. "I would say it's been an up and down season for myself, but now I'm fully focused on the World Matchplay, and hopefully I can go all the way. "I know I'm World Champion and world number two, but I still get a buzz playing these top players."
Australian number one Damon Heta will kick off Sunday afternoon's action against 2024 quarter-finalist Andrew Gilding, as World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker makes his Winter Gardens return against five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall. Cross and Wright - the winners in 2019 and 2021 respectively - face Dutch duo Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena, before 2018 champion Anderson kicks off the evening's proceedings against Luke Woodhouse. Elsewhere, Stephen Bunting and Ryan Joyce renew their Winter Gardens rivalry after meeting at the same stage last year, while 2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton locks horns with German number one Martin Schindler.
The first round concludes with a blockbuster line-up on Monday evening, as three-time winner Van Gerwen takes on 2010 runner-up Raymond van Barneveld in a huge all-Dutch clash. Sixth seed Chris Dobey gets his campaign underway with a tie against German number two Ricardo Pietreczko, before Northern Ireland's World Cup champions Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock enter the fray.
Gurney - a two-time semi-finalist in Blackpool - plays 2022 runner-up Gerwyn Price for the second straight year, while Rock faces former European Champion Ross Smith in another repeat showdown from 2024.
"I just laughed when the draw came out - it's deja-vu!" added Rock, who is bidding to break new ground as he embarks on his third Blackpool appearance.
"Hopefully this time around I come out as the winner, but it should be a fantastic game regardless.
"I'm confident in my own game. I still haven't won a game at the World Matchplay before, but it's only my third appearance there.
"I've always said it's a marathon not a sprint. It will be a stepping stone if I can get that first win, and then I believe I'll be able to push on."
Following the completion of the first round, the second round will take place on Tuesday July 22 and Wednesday July 23, with the quarter-finals staged on Thursday July 24 and Friday July 25. The semi-finals will be held on Saturday July 26, before the final takes place on the evening of Sunday July 27, following the fourth edition of the Betfred Women's World Matchplay.
Littler is the 2/1 pre-tournament favourite with title sponsor Betfred, ahead of his great rival Humphries at 4/1. Price and Rock are priced at 8/1 and 14/1 respectively, with Van Gerwen and Anderson currently 18/1 to repeat former glories at the Winter Gardens.