The darts crowd is getting ready for a new prestigious event on the calendar: the World Matchplay Darts 2025. From Saturday, July 19 to Sunday, July 27, the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England, will once again become the heart of the darts world. Read all about it in this article.
World Matchplay Darts 2025
The Winter Gardens has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1994. It is one of the three “Triple Crown” events, and the winner gets to lift the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy.
The men’s tournament features a field of 32 players competing for the title. Its format differs from other major tournaments as matches are played in legs rather than sets, with the number of legs required to win increasing as the tournament progresses. In the first round, a player must win ten legs, while the final is a “best of 35 legs” match, requiring 18 legs to win. Furthermore, all matches must be won with a two-leg margin. The total prize money for the men’s event is around £800,000, with the winner taking home £200,000.
Men’s Favourites
Luke Humphries is the defending champion, having defeated Michael van Gerwen 18–15 last season. As the current world number one, “Cool Hand Luke” will be a tough opponent to beat in Blackpool. He recently won the US Darts Masters, which will have boosted his confidence even further. Humphries begins his campaign against Gian van Veen, a young Dutch player eager to strike early.
All eyes are also on Luke Littler, the world champion who has yet to add the Phil Taylor Trophy to his cabinet. Last year, he was knocked out in the first round on debut by Michael van Gerwen. This year, he is seeded second and will face Ryan Searle. Littler will be determined to add this title to his growing list of achievements—he’s already ticking off nearly every major title in darts, and he’s still not even 19 years old.
Gerwyn Price, “The Iceman”, is a player no one wants to face. He’s had an excellent year so far, with victories at the Polish Darts Masters and the Baltic Sea Darts Open. His recent form and three-dart average are the best they’ve been in quite some time, making him a strong contender. Price opens against Daryl Gurney, a player he holds a favorable 5–2 head-to-head record against.
A standout name is Josh Rock, whose stock has risen significantly after reaching the semi-finals of the UK Open and winning the World Cup of Darts with Northern Ireland. Despite his reputation as a raw talent who sometimes disappoints under pressure—and two previous first-round exits at the World Matchplay—his finishing ability still makes him a serious contender. He opens against Ross Smith, with the winner set to face either Michael van Gerwen or Raymond van Barneveld.
Michael van Gerwen, a three-time winner in Blackpool, doesn’t need to be at his best to be a threat in this kind of tournament. He won the German Darts Grand Prix in April but has otherwise had a relatively quiet 2025. His first-round match against fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld is a highlight of the opening round and promises to be an emotionally charged clash. However, with Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler also in the bottom half of the draw, the road to a fourth Winter Gardens title is long.
Other notable first-round matchups include Nathan Aspinall vs. Wessel Nijman, and James Wade making his twentieth consecutive Matchplay appearance against Joe Cullen. The clash between Rob Cross and Dirk van Duijvenbode also promises fireworks.
Women’s Tournament
Alongside the men’s competition, the women’s tournament of the World Matchplay will be held on Sunday afternoon, July 27. Eight of the top female dart players will compete for the title. Beau Greaves is the reigning champion, having won in both 2023 and 2024. Last year, she defeated Fallon Sharrock, the 2022 winner. The women’s tournament begins with the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the final. The winner of the women’s event will receive £10,000, with a total prize fund of £25,000.
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