Girish Mahajan (Editor)

World Matchplay (darts)

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Location
  
Blackpool, Lancashire

Month(s) Played
  
July

Format
  
Legs

Country
  
England

Established
  
1994

Prize fund
  
450,000 GBP (2014)

Venue
  
Winter Gardens, Blackpool


Organisation
  
Professional Darts Corporation

Instances
  
2017 World Matchplay, 2016 World Matchplay

The World Matchplay, also known as the BetVictor World Matchplay for sponsorship purposes, is a professional darts tournament. It is played in a legs format, and is run by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Michael van Gerwen is the reigning champion.

Contents

The World Matchplay has been played annually since 1994 in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The first ever winner was Larry Butler, who beat Dennis Priestley 16-12, and the current holder is Michael van Gerwen. It is regarded as the second biggest PDC Tournament, status shown by the fact the whole tournament was sold out within three days of the tickets being on sale.

The 1995 World Matchplay turned out to be Jocky Wilson's last appearance in a major televised event. Wilson had reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural tournament in 1994 and he beat Rod Harrington in the 1st round in 1995, but a 2nd round defeat against Nigel Justice was effectively the end of his career.

From 1994 to 2012, matches at the World Matchplay had to be won by two clear legs. For example, the first round was usually played over the first to 10 legs, but if the score reached 9-9, play continued until either player gained a two-leg lead. Starting with the 2013 World Matchplay, if a two leg-lead hadn't been established after six extra legs, then a sudden death leg is played, so sudden death would come into play in a first round match at 12-12.

World Matchplay finals

The list of finals:

Finalists

Over the course of the tournament's 22-year existence, there have only been seven different winners: Phil Taylor (15), Rod Harrington (2), Michael van Gerwen (2), Larry Butler (1), Peter Evison (1), Colin Lloyd (1) and James Wade (1). Dennis Priestley was also runner-up for three consecutive years.

Records

Nine dart finish 
In the 2002 tournament, Phil Taylor hit the first ever nine dart finish to be broadcast live on UK television. In the 2010 tournament, Raymond van Barneveld achieved a nine dart finish in the Matchplay against Denis Ovens in the first round. In the 2011 tournament, John Part achieved a nine dart finish against Mark Webster. Part went on to lose the match 10–8. In the 2012 tournament, Michael van Gerwen hit a nine dart finish against Steve Beaton in a 13–9 second round win. In the 2012 tournament, Wes Newton hit a nine dart finish against Justin Pipe in a 13–10 second round defeat. In the 2014 tournament, Phil Taylor hit a nine dart finish against Michael Smith in the second round.
Longest match in Matchplay history 
The finals of 1998 and 1999 both went to 36 legs as a result of the format of "2 clear legs".
Highest average in a Matchplay final 
111.23 by Phil Taylor in the 2013 final.
Longest unbeaten run 
Phil Taylor from 2008 - 2015: 38 games. Taylor has only lost eight matches in the history of the event:
  • 1994 Bob Anderson 9–11 (sudden death, second round)
  • 1996 Peter Evison 1–8 (second round)
  • 1998 Ronnie Baxter 10–13 (quarter-finals)
  • 1999 Peter Manley 14–17 (semi-finals)
  • 2005 John Part 11–16 (quarter-finals)
  • 2007 Terry Jenkins 11–17 (semi-finals)
  • 2015 James Wade 14–17 (semi-finals)
  • 2016 Michael van Gerwen 10–18 (Final)
  • Format

    From the beginning of the tournament in 1994, the World Matchplay has always been a legs only event. The length of matches for each round has changed several times over the years, as shown below.

    1994

  • First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Quarter Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Semi Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Final: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • 1995–1997

  • First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Quarter Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Semi Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Final: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • 1998

  • First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Quarter Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Semi Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Final: First to 18 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • 1999–2012

  • First Round: First to 10 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Second Round: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Quarter Finals: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Semi Finals: First to 17 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • Final: First to 18 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
  • 2013–2015

  • First Round: First to 10 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 12–12)
  • Second Round: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 15–15)
  • Quarter Finals: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 18–18)
  • Semi Finals: First to 17 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 19–19)
  • Final: First to 18 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 20–20)
  • 2016–present

  • First Round: First to 10 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 12–12)
  • Second Round: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 13–13)
  • Quarter Finals: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 18–18)
  • Semi Finals: First to 17 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 19–19)
  • Final: First to 18 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs; sudden death leg at 20–20)
  • Media coverage

    The World Matchplay has been broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports since the first tournament.

    Sponsors

    There have been six different sponsors for the World Matchplay:

    References

    World Matchplay (darts) Wikipedia