The 2025 Matchplay is just around the corner so here is everything you need to know about the men’s and women’s tournaments, live on Sky Sports…
Humphries lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy for the first time 12 months ago and will begin his defence against Gian van Veen, the World Youth Champion, on Saturday.
Teenage superstar and reigning World Champion Littler will step up to the oche on Sunday to take on Ryan Searle, a 2023 Matchplay quarter-finalist.
Dutch icons will go head-to-head when Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld meet in Blackpool on Monday.
Luke Humphries and Luke Littler both react to the special achievement of being awarded with MBEs.
Van Gerwen – the runner-up to Humphries last year – is bidding for a fourth World Matchplay title against five-time World Champion Van Barneveld, the runner-up at this event back in 2010.
Former runner-up Jonny Clayton begins his campaign against German No 1 Martin Schindler.
Fourth seed Stephen Bunting will play Ryan Joyce in a repeat of their first round showdown 12 months ago, with 2023 champion Nathan Aspinall drawn against Dutch debutant Wessel Nijman.
Rob Cross and Peter Wright – the winners in 2019 and 2021 respectively – also face Dutch opposition in Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena, while 2018 champion Gary Anderson plays Luke Woodhouse for a place in the last 16.
2007 champion James Wade – also a five-time runner-up – will make his 20th consecutive World Matchplay appearance later this month, and he gets his bid underway against 2023 semi-finalist Joe Cullen.
Take a look at our picks of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries’ best 2025 Premier League checkouts.
Former finalist Gerwyn Price meets Northern Ireland’s newly crowned World Cup champion Daryl Gurney, whose Northern Ireland team-mate Josh Rock takes on former European Champion Ross Smith for the second straight year.
Chris Dobey faces German No 2 Ricardo Pietreczko, as Australian No 1 Damon Heta goes up against former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.
Five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall and World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker also collide, with 2022 semi-finalist Danny Noppert awaiting debutant Cameron Menzies in round one.
When and where is the World Matchplay?
Highlights of the World Matchplay final as Luke Humphries took on Michael van Gerwen.
The 2025 Betfred World Matchplay will take place from July 19-27 at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool, as a star-studded 32-player field compete for the £200,000 top prize.
The first round of the sport’s summer showpiece sees the world’s top 16 players seeded and pitted against the top 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Rankings.
The sport’s biggest names will compete across nine days of action at the Empress Ballroom, with £800,000 in prize money and the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy up for grabs, all of it live on Sky Sports.
Speaking on Love The Darts, Michael Bridge and Stuart Pyke discuss the rivalry between Luke Humphries and Luke Littler after the pair contested the Premier League play-off final.
Who is taking part in the men’s event?
Humphries will take centre stage on Saturday’s opening night, as former champions Aspinall and Wade also star in a bumper line-up.
Littler will headline Sunday’s double-session alongside the likes of Bunting, Clayton, Cross and Anderson, before Van Gerwen and Price enter the fray on Day Three, as the first round draws to a close on Monday evening.
Luke Humphries celebrates winning the World Matchplay after defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
First-round draw:
Luke Humphries (1) vs Gian van Veen
Danny Noppert (16) vs Cameron Menzies
Nathan Aspinall (8) vs Wessel Nijman
James Wade (9) vs Joe Cullen
Stephen Bunting (4) vs Ryan Joyce
Gary Anderson (13) vs Luke Woodhouse
Jonny Clayton (5) vs Martin Schindler
Dave Chisnall (12) vs Mike De Decker
Luke Littler (2) vs Ryan Searle
Peter Wright (15) vs Jermaine Wattimena
Damon Heta (7) vs Andrew Gilding
Rob Cross (10) vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen (3) vs Raymond van Barneveld
Ross Smith (14) vs Josh Rock
Chris Dobey (6) vs Ricardo Pietreczko
Gerwyn Price (11) vs Daryl Gurney
What is the format?
The World Matchplay is a legs format, with the number of legs required to win increasing as the rounds go on.
Each match must be won by two clear legs unless the score is tied after six legs.
- Round 1: first to 10 legs (sudden death at 12-12)
- Round 2: first to 11 legs (sudden death at 13-13)
- Quarter-finals: first to 16 legs (sudden death at 18-18)
- Semi-finals: first to 17 legs (sudden death at 19-19)
- Final: first to 18 legs (sudden death at 20-20)
Luke Humphries pays tribute to Phil Taylor for his advice and support after claiming the Premier League Darts title for 2025.
Who are the previous winners?
The World Matchplay has a long list of stellar winners, with Humphries heading into the 2025 tournament as the defending champion.
The first winner was Larry Butler back in 1994 before Phil Taylor then picked up his first win of 16 (yes, 16) in 1995.
Luke Humphries wins the World Matchplay title with a sensational 100 finish against Michael van Gerwen.
Taylor also won the 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017 Matchplays.
During his 2002 win, Taylor also threw the first ever televised nine-darter and such dominance led to the trophy being renamed after him in 2018.
Other winners include Michael van Gerwen (2015, 2016 and 2022), Gary Anderson (2018), Rob Cross (2019), Dimitri Van den Bergh (2020), and Peter Wright (2021).
Dimitri Van den Bergh hits a nine-darter against Martin Schindler in the World Matchplay.
What is the prize fund?
It is fair to say there is a lot at stake!
Winner £200,000
Runner-Up £100,000
Semi-Finalists £50,000
Quarter-Finalists £30,000
Second Round Losers £15,000
First Round Losers £10,000
Total £800,000
When is the women’s World Matchplay?
The story of women’s finals day at the World Matchplay.
The women’s World Matchplay takes place in the afternoon of Sunday July 27, live on Sky Sports.
Eight of the top women’s players in the world will battle it out to be crowned champion on the Winter Gardens stage in what is the fourth edition of the women’s event.
Who is in the women’s event?
Beau Greaves successfully retains the Women’s World Matchplay title with a 6-3 victory over Fallon Sherrock.
Eight of the top women’s players will take part in the event, with defending back-to-back champion Beau Greaves returning to Blackpool, she will be joined by Fallon Sherrock, Kirski Viinikainen, Lisa Ashton, Robyn Byrne, Noa-Lynn van Leuven, Lorrain Winstanley, and Gemma Hayter.
Quarter-final draw:
Beau Greaves vs Kirski Viinikainen
Lisa Ashton vs Robyn Byrne
Noa-Lynn van Leuven vs Lorraine Winstanley
Fallon Sherrock vs Gemma Hayter
Who are the previous winners?
Speaking on Love The Darts, Laura Turner and Matt Edgar believe now is the time for Beau Greaves to play at the PDC World Championship.
The ‘Queen of the Palace’ Sherrock was the inaugural winner of the Women’s Matchplay when she won back in 2022 in the first fully televised women’s tournament as she beat Aileen de Graaf 6-3 in the final.
From then, Greaves has gone to win the tournament in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, she trounced Mikuru Suzuki 6-1 and in 2024, she kept hold of the trophy with a 6-3 win over Sherrock.
What is the format?
The World Matchplay is also a legs format, with the number of legs required to win increasing as the rounds go on.
The Women’s World Matchplay starts with quarter-finals which are the best of seven legs before the semi-finals being competed in a best of nine legs format.
The final is then the best of eleven legs.
Quarter-finals: Best of seven legs
Beau Greaves vs Kirski Viinikainen
Lisa Ashton vs Robyn Byrne
Noa-Lynn van Leuven vs Lorraine Winstanley
Fallon Sherrock vs Gemma Hayter
Semi-finals: Best of nine legs
TBC
Final: Best of eleven legs
TBC
What is the prize fund?
Winner: £10,000
Runner-Up: £5,000
Semi-Finalists: £2,500
Quarter-Finalists: £1,250
Total: £25,000
Watch the World Matchplay live on Sky Sports from July 19-27 or stream without a contract.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
LOOK: Buccaneers bring back iconic ‘creamsicle’ uniforms as part of team’s 50th anniversary celebration
Getty Images The 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will certainly look the part as the franchise begins its yearlong celebration of its 50th season. That celebration will include the return of the team's original jerseys from its inaugural season back in 1976. The Buccaneers will wear their 1976 uniforms for their Week 1 showdown against the New York Jets. The all-white uniforms include their iconic "creamsicle" color scheme of Florida orange, white and red. It will also include the team's original pirate helmet. This version of the Buccaneers' uniform hasn't been worn since the '76 season. Tampa Bay's promotional video for the uniforms was narrated by Steve Spurrier, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who served as the franchise's first starting quarterback. The video also included cameos from several current and former players and coaches. The Buccaneers used a variation of this […]
Marcelo Marques confirma que Arena do Grêmio será doada ao clube e projeta futuro: “Precisamos ter 300 mil sócios”
Marcelo Marques, empresário (Reprodução/Grêmio TV)Em entrevista coletiva concedida na manhã de hoje (15) no auditório da Arena do Grêmio, o empresário Marcelo Marques trouxe mais detalhes sobre a nova fase da gestão do estádio. Ao lado do presidente gremista Alberto Guerra e de outros dirigentes, o CEO e fundador da Marquespan fez mais esclarecimentos sobre a operação milionária que realizou na última sexta-feira (11). PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEEmocionado e com a voz embargada, Marcelo Marques fez questão de ressaltar que exerceu o papel de um apaixonado gremista. “Foi um prazer poder ter ajudado. Quem ajudou não foi um milionário, um bilionário, que nem tão falando por aí. Foi um torcedor do Grêmio igual a vocês. Eu sei que, se vocês pudessem, vocês fariam o mesmo que eu”, afirmou. “A Arena é nossa!”, exclamou na sequência, seguido de um palavrão e sendo aplaudido […]
Galvão Bueno repercute possível cartão amarelo forçado de Memphis Depay no Corinthians: “Se fez isso, é um bobão”
Galvão Bueno questiona amarelo de Depay - Foto: Reprodução/TV BandeirantesNa “carona” da informação trazida pelo seu amigo e colega Walter Casagrande, de que Memphis Depay poderia ter “forçado” o terceiro cartão amarelo para ficar suspenso no Corinthians, o narrador Galvão Bueno se manifestou nas redes sociais criticando tal comportamento. A nova advertência ao atleta aconteceu na derrota de 2×1 em casa para o Bragantino, o que gerou a suspensão para o jogo fora de casa contra o Ceará, em nova rodada do Brasileirão, em jogo marcado para quarta-feira no horário das 19h30. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE“Na quarta-feira, tem Corinthians e Ceará! Se o Memphis Depay forçou o cartão amarelo pra não ir pro Ceará, ele é um bobão! Porque o Ceará é um espetáculo!!”, publicou Galvão em seu Twitter, gerando grande movimentação dos seus seguidores.Na quarta-feira, tem Corinthians e Ceará!! Se o […]
Mrtka podepsal s Buffalem tříletou nováčkovskou smlouvu
Mrtka byl letos nejvýše draftovaným českým hokejistou. Rodák z Havlíčkova Brodu působil v zámoří už v minulé sezoně, kterou zahájil v dresu Třince. Pak se přesunul do juniorské soutěže WHL, v níž odehrál za Seattle Thunderbirds 43 zápasů, v nichž si připsal tři góly a 32 asistencí. V play off přidal v šesti utkáních tři asistence.Po draftu se těšil do Buffala i kvůli švédskému obránci Rasmusi Dahlinovi, který patří k jeho vzorům. „Buffalo má úžasné hráče. Zejména Dahlin, který je jedním z mých idolů, je skvělý. Vzhlížím k němu a snažím se hrát jako on. Bude skvělé se od něj učit a zahrát si s ním,“ řekl Mrtka.
Každý si má zamést před vlastním prahem, reaguje Svědík na kritiku a varuje před mouchami
Vyloučeny podle něj nejsou ani odchody, vždyť současný široký kádr čítá kromě tří brankářů hned jedenatřicet hráčů do pole. „Se šířkou kádru jsem spokojený, protože máme některé hráče zraněné. Ještě nejsou k dispozici mladý Polák a Večeřa, Jirka Texl a Ondra Pachlopník. Kádr zatím necháváme takto a v momentě, kdy se všichni uzdraví, tak to ještě můžeme různě proplítat,“ pověděl Svědík.Zbrojovka vstoupí do své třetí sezony v řadě ve druhé lize s deseti novými akvizicemi, víc než polovinu z nich lovila v nejvyšší soutěži. „Do kádru jsme vybírali nejlepší hráče z druhé ligy a volné hráče z první ligy. S realizačním týmem plus sportovním ředitelem Martinem Jiránkem jsme si udělali seznam hráčů, o které stojíme, s tím, že jsme na něm měli na každou pozici čtyři hráče. Ne každý se hned podaří. Nám se povedlo sehnat deset hráčů, které jsme chtěli. Bylo to náročné, ale rychlé a efektivní,“ pochvaloval si brněnský kouč, jenž do klubu přišel […]
Kontrolka v Liberci bliká ve středu obrany. Je to risk, soudí zkušený kouč Rada
Na startu přípravy označil liberecký kouč Radoslav Kováč za jednu z priorit posílení defenzivy. „Chtěli bychom určitě přivést hráče do obranné čtyřky,“ prohlásil. Ve středu obrany je momentálně Hvězda ze severu nejvíce zranitelná. Pět dnů před startem soutěže má na stoperskou pozici k dispozici pouze Dominika Plechatého a Šimona Gabriela, zaskočit tam může i služebně nejstarší hráč Slovanu Jan Mikula.„Problém to může být. Jít do ligy se dvěma, nebo když budu počítat i s Mikulou, jenž tam může alternovat, se třemi stopery je opravdu málo. Obzvlášť pro Liberec, který má velké ambice a určitě bude chtít bojovat o poháry, když mu loňský ročník nevyšel,“ říká Petr Rada, který v nejvyšší soutěži odkoučoval 479 zápasů a před patnácti lety vedl i Liberec.„Divím se, že se takhle lehce zbavili Purzitidise, který tam byl dlouho a myslím, že je to kvalitní hráč. Ale nerad bych mluvil do strategie Liberce, to si musejí vyhodnotit oni sami. […]
Related
LOOK: Buccaneers bring back iconic ‘creamsicle’ uniforms as part of team’s 50th anniversary celebration
Getty Images The 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will certainly look the part as the franchise begins its yearlong celebration of its 50th season. That celebration will include the return of the team's original jerseys from its inaugural season back in 1976. The Buccaneers will wear their 1976 uniforms for their Week 1 showdown against the New York Jets. The all-white uniforms include their iconic "creamsicle" color scheme of Florida orange, white and red. It will also include the team's original pirate helmet. This version of the Buccaneers' uniform hasn't been worn since the '76 season. Tampa Bay's promotional video for the uniforms was narrated by Steve Spurrier, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who served as the franchise's first starting quarterback. The video also included cameos from several current and former players and coaches. The Buccaneers used a variation of this […]
Marcelo Marques confirma que Arena do Grêmio será doada ao clube e projeta futuro: “Precisamos ter 300 mil sócios”
Marcelo Marques, empresário (Reprodução/Grêmio TV)Em entrevista coletiva concedida na manhã de hoje (15) no auditório da Arena do Grêmio, o empresário Marcelo Marques trouxe mais detalhes sobre a nova fase da gestão do estádio. Ao lado do presidente gremista Alberto Guerra e de outros dirigentes, o CEO e fundador da Marquespan fez mais esclarecimentos sobre a operação milionária que realizou na última sexta-feira (11). PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEEmocionado e com a voz embargada, Marcelo Marques fez questão de ressaltar que exerceu o papel de um apaixonado gremista. “Foi um prazer poder ter ajudado. Quem ajudou não foi um milionário, um bilionário, que nem tão falando por aí. Foi um torcedor do Grêmio igual a vocês. Eu sei que, se vocês pudessem, vocês fariam o mesmo que eu”, afirmou. “A Arena é nossa!”, exclamou na sequência, seguido de um palavrão e sendo aplaudido […]
Galvão Bueno repercute possível cartão amarelo forçado de Memphis Depay no Corinthians: “Se fez isso, é um bobão”
Galvão Bueno questiona amarelo de Depay - Foto: Reprodução/TV BandeirantesNa “carona” da informação trazida pelo seu amigo e colega Walter Casagrande, de que Memphis Depay poderia ter “forçado” o terceiro cartão amarelo para ficar suspenso no Corinthians, o narrador Galvão Bueno se manifestou nas redes sociais criticando tal comportamento. A nova advertência ao atleta aconteceu na derrota de 2×1 em casa para o Bragantino, o que gerou a suspensão para o jogo fora de casa contra o Ceará, em nova rodada do Brasileirão, em jogo marcado para quarta-feira no horário das 19h30. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE“Na quarta-feira, tem Corinthians e Ceará! Se o Memphis Depay forçou o cartão amarelo pra não ir pro Ceará, ele é um bobão! Porque o Ceará é um espetáculo!!”, publicou Galvão em seu Twitter, gerando grande movimentação dos seus seguidores.Na quarta-feira, tem Corinthians e Ceará!! Se o […]
Mrtka podepsal s Buffalem tříletou nováčkovskou smlouvu
Mrtka byl letos nejvýše draftovaným českým hokejistou. Rodák z Havlíčkova Brodu působil v zámoří už v minulé sezoně, kterou zahájil v dresu Třince. Pak se přesunul do juniorské soutěže WHL, v níž odehrál za Seattle Thunderbirds 43 zápasů, v nichž si připsal tři góly a 32 asistencí. V play off přidal v šesti utkáních tři asistence.Po draftu se těšil do Buffala i kvůli švédskému obránci Rasmusi Dahlinovi, který patří k jeho vzorům. „Buffalo má úžasné hráče. Zejména Dahlin, který je jedním z mých idolů, je skvělý. Vzhlížím k němu a snažím se hrát jako on. Bude skvělé se od něj učit a zahrát si s ním,“ řekl Mrtka.
Každý si má zamést před vlastním prahem, reaguje Svědík na kritiku a varuje před mouchami
Vyloučeny podle něj nejsou ani odchody, vždyť současný široký kádr čítá kromě tří brankářů hned jedenatřicet hráčů do pole. „Se šířkou kádru jsem spokojený, protože máme některé hráče zraněné. Ještě nejsou k dispozici mladý Polák a Večeřa, Jirka Texl a Ondra Pachlopník. Kádr zatím necháváme takto a v momentě, kdy se všichni uzdraví, tak to ještě můžeme různě proplítat,“ pověděl Svědík.Zbrojovka vstoupí do své třetí sezony v řadě ve druhé lize s deseti novými akvizicemi, víc než polovinu z nich lovila v nejvyšší soutěži. „Do kádru jsme vybírali nejlepší hráče z druhé ligy a volné hráče z první ligy. S realizačním týmem plus sportovním ředitelem Martinem Jiránkem jsme si udělali seznam hráčů, o které stojíme, s tím, že jsme na něm měli na každou pozici čtyři hráče. Ne každý se hned podaří. Nám se povedlo sehnat deset hráčů, které jsme chtěli. Bylo to náročné, ale rychlé a efektivní,“ pochvaloval si brněnský kouč, jenž do klubu přišel […]
Kontrolka v Liberci bliká ve středu obrany. Je to risk, soudí zkušený kouč Rada
Na startu přípravy označil liberecký kouč Radoslav Kováč za jednu z priorit posílení defenzivy. „Chtěli bychom určitě přivést hráče do obranné čtyřky,“ prohlásil. Ve středu obrany je momentálně Hvězda ze severu nejvíce zranitelná. Pět dnů před startem soutěže má na stoperskou pozici k dispozici pouze Dominika Plechatého a Šimona Gabriela, zaskočit tam může i služebně nejstarší hráč Slovanu Jan Mikula.„Problém to může být. Jít do ligy se dvěma, nebo když budu počítat i s Mikulou, jenž tam může alternovat, se třemi stopery je opravdu málo. Obzvlášť pro Liberec, který má velké ambice a určitě bude chtít bojovat o poháry, když mu loňský ročník nevyšel,“ říká Petr Rada, který v nejvyšší soutěži odkoučoval 479 zápasů a před patnácti lety vedl i Liberec.„Divím se, že se takhle lehce zbavili Purzitidise, který tam byl dlouho a myslím, že je to kvalitní hráč. Ale nerad bych mluvil do strategie Liberce, to si musejí vyhodnotit oni sami. […]
Be the first to leave a comment