World Matchplay Darts, starting 15/07/2023 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Outside the World Championships, the biggest event on the PDC calendar is upon us as 32 players head to Blackpool for the 30th staging of the World Matchplay.
Defending champion Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price, who lost to the Dutchman in that final, are both priced as favourites heading into the tournament.
Van Gerwen will open his campaign against ‘The History Maker’ Brendan Dolan on Sunday.
The 34-year-old arrives at the Winter Gardens fresh from winning the inaugural Poland Darts Masters in Warsaw – beating Dimitri Van den Bergh 8-3 in the final.
The Dutchman has been on a manic win streak over recent months, claiming the last three major events.
As well as winning the Poland Darts Masters, Van Gerwen also won the US Darts Masters in June and defeated Gerwyn Price to win the Premier League last May.
But the bookmakers have faith in Price and most have the former world champion on level terms when it comes to pre-tournament odds.
World champion Michael Smith is currently the third favourite. However, since winning June’s Players Championship 13 event, Bully Boy has stumbled in following tournaments.
Others to back
Luke Humphries (12/1) has reached just one major final in his career but is in good form and he could turn out to be a real dark horse.
Dirk van Duijvenbode has enjoyed impressive runs at recent Players Championship and European Tour events and is also worth a look at 20/1.
Dimitri Van den Bergh, who won the Matchplay back in 2020 and reached the final a year later, is an enticing option at around the 28/1 mark. But he faces a potentially tricky test in the opening round as he takes on Ross Smith.
