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The draw for the 33rd World Matchplay has been made and it’s set up for a spectacular nine nights at the Winter Gardens.
The PDC confirmed all 16 first-round ties with the darts World Matchplay draw on Thursday, with the action getting underway at Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens on Saturday 18 July.
Defending champion Luke Littler headlines the bill and, as you’d expect, the draw hasn’t been kind to everyone.
Here at Throw For 180, we’ve got the full draw, plus a look at the best ties of the round.
Littler Eyes Back to Back Titles
Luke Littler enters the tournament as top seed and, on paper at least, has been handed a manageable opener against Niko Springer.
The German qualifier has been in decent form on the ProTour, but Littler will be expected to progress.
If he does, he would become the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2015 to defend the Phil Taylor Trophy. That’s the kind of history that motivates a player like Littler. Don’t expect him to be taking Springer lightly.
Darts World Matchplay Draw: First Round
Here is a look at the full first round darts World Matchplay draw.
Seeds shown in brackets. First round is best of 19 legs — sudden death at 12-12.
(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 Price 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
Darts World Matchplay Draw: Ties to Watch
We’ve got a cracking first round of action to enjoy, and I’ve picked out a handful of ties worth watching from the first round.
Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies
The second seed Luke Humphries draw is arguably the tie of the round. Menzies has been one of the ProTour’s more consistent performers and is no stranger to televised occasions.
Humphries will be aiming to go one better than last year and challenge for the title, but Menzies will make him work for it from the off.
Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding
MvG is seeded fourth and faces a man who has been in irresistible form on the ProTour. Gilding, nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ has had a strong year and won’t be intimidated by the occasion.
Michael Van Gerwen, a three-time World Matchplay champion, knows better than most that an early exit in Blackpool is a very real possibility if you underestimate your opponent. This one could be tasty.
Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen
Two seasoned pros who know each other’s games inside out.
Aspinall (16th seed) vs Cullen is the kind of match that on another day could easily have been a quarter-final.
Whichever player goes through will fancy a run deep into the tournament.
Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta
The Ferret against The Heat. Clayton is a former Grand Prix champion and knows the big stage, but Heta has the power scoring to trouble any player in the world on his day.
A best-of-19 shootout between these two could be electric.
Of all the ties in the darts World Matchplay draw, if I had to pick a match that could be a classic, then I think this would be it.
Danny Noppert v Rob Cross
A fascinating first-round clash. Cross, the 2018 World Champion, comes in through the ProTour rankings and will relish the opportunity.
Noppert is a dangerous 10th seed who can be brilliant. One of the less-heralded ties but one with genuine quality on both sides.
Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse
Rock, the eighth seed from Northern Ireland, is one of the most exciting young players on tour and a genuine threat to go deep here.
Woodhouse will make it competitive, but Rock should be the favourite to advance.
Darts World Matchplay Prize Money
With a prize fund boosted to £1,000,000, up from £800,000 last year, the stakes have never been higher at the Winter Gardens.
The winner takes home £225,000 and the Phil Taylor Trophy, a prize that remains one of the most coveted in darts.
The seedings tell their own story about where the game is right now. Gian van Veen is seeded third behind Littler and Humphries, showing how rapidly the Dutch youngster has risen.
Van Veen faces Krzysztof Ratajski, a tough but winnable opener if the Dutchman is on form.
Gary Anderson, the two-time world champion, comes in as 12th seed and faces Ryan Joyce.
James Wade, seeded sixth and runner-up last year, faces Jermaine Wattimena. Wade will be motivated after coming so close in 2025; Wattimena is capable of high-scoring darts and won’t make it easy.
Darts World Matchplay Format
For those coming to the Matchplay fresh, it’s worth remembering that this tournament is played entirely in legs, no sets, with matches getting longer as the week progresses.
The first round is best of 19 legs, with sudden death if players can’t be separated.
By the final, it stretches to best of 35. It rewards consistency and nerve in equal measure.
How to Watch the Darts World Matchplay
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay runs from Saturday 18 July to Sunday 26 July at the Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool.
All nine sessions are live on Sky Sports, with coverage on the opening day beginning at 7pm.
Nine nights. Thirty-two players. One Phil Taylor Trophy. Blackpool is ready.