World Matchplay Darts 2021 – Preview, Prediction, Previous Winners

World Matchplay Darts 2021

• Saturday 17th July – Sunday 25th July 2021

The World Matchplay will return to its traditional Winter Gardens home after being staged behind closed doors in Milton Keynes last year, with 32 of the world’s best battling it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy from July 17-25. There could be as many as eight debutants among the list of Pro Tour qualifiers, with UK Open finalist Luke Humphries, World Grand Prix runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode and PDC title winners Devon Petersen and Damon Heta all almost assured of sealing qualification. SkyBet places the three debutants at Humpries 66/1, Van Duijvenbode 33/1, Peterson 66/1, and Heta 80/1.

The competition amongst the seeded players will also be fascinating. There are 12 PDC major winners among the provisional 16 seeds, which enhances the prospect of some intriguing second-round contests. At present, world No 1 Gerwyn Price would face his compatriot and Premier League champion Jonny Clayton in the last 16. The Welsh world cup winners are great friends and would not want to meet at such an early stage of the competition. You can get Price to win at 5/1 and a Clayton tournament victory at 14/1 from bookie Bet365.

Players

Matchplay qualifiers – Order of Merit

Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson, Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Jose De Sousa, Nathan Aspinall, Glen Durrant, Krzysztof Ratajski, Daryl Gurney, Joe Cullen, Jonny Clayton.

Provisional Matchplay qualifiers – Pro Tour

Devon Petersen, Damon Heta, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Brendan Dolan, Danny Noppert, Mensur Suljovic, Luke Humphries, Mervyn King, Gabriel Clemens, Vincent van der Voort, Ross Smith, Ian White, Callan Rydz, Ryan Searle, Jermaine Wattimena, Madars Razma.

Previous Winners and Results 

Current Format since 2016; 

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)

• 1994 Larry Butler (92.70) 16–12 Dennis Priestley (91.59)
• 1995 Phil Taylor (90.72) 16–11 Dennis Priestley (87.63)
• 1996 Peter Evison (100.51) 16–14 Dennis Priestley (96.67)
• 1997 Phil Taylor (106.32) 16–11 Alan Warriner (98.42)
• 1998 Rod Harrington (95.03) 19–17 Ronnie Baxter (94.07)
• 1999 Rod Harrington (85.95) 19–17 Peter Manley (86.91)
• 2000 Phil Taylor (100.32) 18–12 Alan Warriner (97.14)
• 2001 Phil Taylor (99.57) 18–10 Richie Burnett (90.99)
• 2002 Phil Taylor (98.76) 18–16 John Part (94.14)
• 2003 Phil Taylor (94.38) 18–12 Wayne Mardle (97.44)
• 2004 Phil Taylor (100.20) 18–8 Mark Dudbridge (89.24)
• 2005 Colin Lloyd (97.89) 18–12 John Part (94.53)
• 2006 Phil Taylor (100.08) 18–11 James Wade (90.01)
• 2007 James Wade (96.83) 18–7 Terry Jenkins (91.62)
• 2008 Phil Taylor (109.47) 18–9 James Wade (102.58)
• 2009 Phil Taylor (106.05) 18–4 Terry Jenkins (92.32)
• 2010 Phil Taylor (105.16) 18–12 Raymond van Barneveld (100.11)
• 2011 Phil Taylor (103.84) 18–8 James Wade (98.84)
• 2012 Phil Taylor (98.97) 18–15 James Wade (95.92)
• 2013 Phil Taylor (111.23) 18–13 Adrian Lewis (105.92)
• 2014 Phil Taylor (107.19) 18–9 Michael van Gerwen (101.49)
• 2015 Michael van Gerwen (99.91) 18–12 James Wade (90.37)
• 2016 Michael van Gerwen (103.93) 18–10 Phil Taylor (101.13)
• 2017 Phil Taylor (104.24) 18–8 Peter Wright (99.74)
• 2018 Gary Anderson (101.12) 21–19 Mensur Suljović (104.43)
• 2019 Rob Cross (95.16) 18–13 Michael Smith (95.91)
• 2020 Dimitri Van den Bergh (98.31) 18–10 Gary Anderson (92.81)

World Matchplay Darts Prediction 

Despite his recent time off and missing the Premier League, it is difficult to write off the World Champion. Gerwyn Price will be rested, fresh, and more determined than ever to make an impression and maintain his world no 1 status with another major. You can back Gerwyn Price @ 5/1 with William Hill.