World Matchplay Darts 2026: Blackpool dates, draw, format, favourites and prize cash for event at Winter Gardens

The 2026 Matchplay is simply across the nook so right here is every little thing you’ll want to know in regards to the males’s and ladies’s tournaments, dwell on Sky Sports activities…

Luke Littler lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy for the primary time 12 months in the past and can start his title defence towards up-and-comer Niko Springer.

The teenage sensation beat James Wade 18-13 within the remaining of final 12 months’s occasion, recovering from 5-0 all the way down to seal an enthralling comeback victory and change into the fifth participant in historical past to finish the ‘Triple Crown’.

When and the place is the World Matchplay?

The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay will happen from July 18-26 on the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool, as a star-studded 32-player discipline compete for the boosted prize.

Prize purses for the 2026 occasion have been elevated to £1m, with the winner set to pocket £225,000.

The primary spherical of the game’s summer season showpiece sees the world’s high 16 gamers seeded and pitted towards the highest 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Rankings.

Who’s participating within the males’s occasion?

Littler will take centre stage as he seems to change into the primary participant since Michael van Gerwen in 2015 to go back-to-back in Blackpool however there are lots of different stars to look out for.

2024 champion Luke Humphries stars with an enormous conflict towards Cameron Menzies, whereas the likes of Gian van Veen, James Wade, Josh Rock, Gerwyn Worth, Michael van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson may even stake their declare.

(1) Luke Littler v Niko Springer

(16) Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen

(8) Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse

(9) Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld

(4) Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding

(13) Chris Dobey v Dirk van Duijvenbode

(5) Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta

(12) Gary Anderson v Ryan Joyce

(2) Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies

(15) Ross Smith v Kevin Doets

(7) Gerwyn Worth v Martin Schindler

(10) Danny Noppert v Rob Cross

(3) Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski

(14) Wessel Nijman v Dave Chisnall

(6) James Wade v Jermaine Wattimena

(11) Ryan Searle v William O’Connor

What’s the format?

The World Matchplay is a legs format, with the variety of legs required to win growing because the rounds go on.

Every match should be gained by two clear legs, except the rating is tied after the fifth ‘extra’ leg at which level sudden dying takes place.

Spherical 1: first to 10 legs (sudden dying at 12-12)
Spherical 2: first to 11 legs (sudden dying at 13-13)
Quarter-finals: first to 16 legs (sudden dying at 18-18)
Semi-finals: first to 17 legs (sudden dying at 19-19)
Last: first to 18 legs (sudden dying at 20-20)

Who’re the earlier winners?

The World Matchplay has a protracted listing of stellar winners, with Littler heading into the 2026 event as defending champion.

The primary winner was Larry Butler again in 1994 earlier than Phil Taylor then picked up his first win of 16 (sure, 16) in 1995.

Taylor additionally gained the 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017 Matchplays.

Throughout his 2002 win, Taylor additionally threw the primary ever televised nine-darter and such dominance led to the trophy being renamed after him in 2018.

Different winners embrace Michael van Gerwen (2015, 2016 and 2022), Gary Anderson (2018), Rob Cross (2019), Dimitri Van den Bergh (2020), Peter Wright (2021), Nathan Aspinall (2023), and Luke Humphries (2024).

What’s the prize fund?

Winner: £225,000
Runner-up: £125,000
Semi-finalists: £65,000
Quarter-finalists: £35,000
Second spherical: £22,500
First spherical: £12,500

When is the ladies’s World Matchplay?

The fifth staging of the Girls’s World Matchplay will likely be held on the afternoon of Sunday July 26 at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, dwell on Sky Sports activities.

Eight of the highest girls’s gamers on the planet will battle it out to be topped champion as Lisa Ashton seems to defend her title.

Who’s within the girls’s occasion?

Alongside defending champion Ashton, there will likely be two-time winner Beau Greaves and 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock, with Gemma Hayter and Vicky Pruim additionally included.

Deta Hedman and Rhian O’Sullivan may even function, with Finnish star Kirsi Viinikainen taking the ultimate spot on supply.

Draw Bracket
(1) Beau Greaves vs (8) Kirsi Viinikainen
(4) Gemma Hayter vs (5) Vicky Pruim
(2) Lisa Ashton vs (7) Rhian O’Sullivan
(3) Fallon Sherrock vs (6) Deta Hedman

Prize Money
Winner: £15,000
Runner-Up: £8,000
Semi-Finalists: £4,500
Quarter-Finalists: £2,000
Complete: £40,000