World Matchplay 2025
The First Round
The first round of a major tournament often brings some upsets and suprise wins and it was not different in this year's World Matchplay.
It already started on the first night when not only reigning champion Luke Humphries but the champion of 2023 Nathan Apspinall both were eliminated by strong playing Dutch players. Though I've to say that I had not been really sure whether Humphries would survive the first round when the draw was published. Humphries is not in his best form at the moment and he's a player who often not starts in a tournament with his A-Game while Gian van Veen more often now shows strong performances and - when he finds his game - can be a challenge for every player. Not ideal as a first round opponent for a strugglingr Humphries. Humphries is not the first reigning World Matchplay champion though who was eliminated first round when he tried to defend his title. It happened as well to Colin Lloyd (against Chris Mason), Rob Cross (against Gabriel Clemens) and even Michael van Gerwen, who lost 2023 first round to Brendan Dolan. One will see how Humphries will react for whom it was the second hard blow after the exit from the PDC World Cup. It can well be the little break will have a positive effect before he has to travel Down Under for the World Series events in Neu Zealand and Australia.
Nathan Aspinall had the same foreseeable problem with his first round opponent Wessel Nijman - Nijman often shows strong performances in his first matches on the European Tour but so far is not really consistent. What suprised me more was how nerveless Nijman showed at his debut in a Major - especially when you compare him to the second debutant of the tournament Cameron Menzies who only overcame his nerves near the end of his match. Should Nijman be able to find his consistency he might well be a player with a "big future".
The other two seeded players of the first night - James Wade and Danny Noppert - won their matches. Wade turned up surprisingly strong against Joe Cullen who had no chance at all while Danny Noppert had no problems against an overwhelmed Cameron Menzies.
The second day of the tournament had an afternoon - and an evening-session which went off completely different. None of the four seeds survived the afternoon-session. Damon Heta lost in overtime to a strong playing Andrew Gilding. Rob Cross and Peter Wright lost to the Dutch duo Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena - Cross had been far ahead in the match but run out of steam while Wright battled till the end and lost a little bit unlucky. Dave Chisnall played exactly as he plays at the moment which was not enough against Mike de Decker. All in all with the exception of the first match it was not an outstanding session.
The evening was much more a success for the seeds who all four progressed. Gary Anderson was too masterfully for Luke Woodhouse who could only keep up till the 5:5. Jonny Clayton didn't have an easy match against strong playing German Martin Schindler but his timing was much better which made the difference. Luke Littler was just not to be stopped by a good playing Ryan Searle - what a performance by the young player who confirmed his part as favourite for the title. The last match of the night started lame but Stephen Bunting picked up pace and in the ende won 10:8 to Ryan Joyce.
On the third day of the tournament the first round was played to the end in an evening-session with the last four very different matches and the playing level differed a lot as well. The night started with the match between Chris Dobey and and the second German in the tournament Ricardo Pietreczko. It was all in all a weak match but while Dobey managed to settle down halfway through it Pietreczko started not bad but then lost his way completely and played with 83.22 the so far lowest average of the event. His double trouble in the middle of the match got him out of step and he never recovered. The following match between Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney was the polar contrary. Both players were in battle mood, even aggressive, and both showed a strong performance on stage. The slightly better Price won with 10:7.
After this good match we did see the clash of two Dutch legends in Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld. A clash which in some years ago would habe brought a glint in the eyes of the crowd. But last nigth it was only a very distant echo of former performances and a little bit sad. Van Gerwen, the better player, had an average of not even 92 while van Barneveld ended with 87.10. Van Gerwen won 10:6 and one shouldn't overrate it - even though he showed a lot of similar performances recently. The Dutchman is - or at least was - always capable to improve a lot throughout a tournament.
The last match of the night and of the first round brought a conciliating highlight - Josh Rock - invigorated by his win in the PDC World Cup - rattled off a frish, energised and outstanding appearence which sometime in the match even carried off Ross Smith who had been all at sea at the beginning of the match and it developed an entertaining game with a convincing 10:5 win for Rock.
Bottom Line of the first round - it was not a really good start for the seeded players, seven of them were eliminated already first round - among them reigning champion Luke Humphries. Dobey and van Gerwen somehow smuggled themselves in the next round due to their weak opponents. The other seeds showed solid to great performances. Some of the not seeded players played outstanding - headed by Rock and Nijman. It will show whether they will be able to keep up the level. I myself feel it more probable that one of the remaining seeds will be the new World Matchplay Champion. The two German players showed completely different performances - Schindler played great, Pietreczko weak - but both lost nevertheless.
From the quarterfinals onwards I'll be in Blackpool and I really wonder whom I will see playing live on stage.
Pictures with kind allowance of the PDC