2025 PDC World Matchplay Darts: Championship Showdown, Prize Pool Revealed & Blackpool Battle Schedule

The 2025 World Matchplay Darts returns to Blackpool's Winter Gardens from July 19-27, featuring 32 elite players competing for £800,000 prize pool. Defending champion Luke Humphries leads the field in this PDC major tournament.

Tournament Structure & Qualification

The 2025 PDC World Matchplay features a 32-player knockout format with:

  • Top 16 PDC Order of Merit qualifiers
  • 16 ProTour Order of Merit contenders
  • Notable absence: 2023 world champion Michael Smith

Championship Format Breakdown

  • First Round: Best of 19 legs
  • Quarter-Finals: Best of 31 legs
  • Final: Potential 35-leg thriller

Historic Venue & Prize Money

Blackpool's Winter Gardens hosts its 28th consecutive World Matchplay edition. The £800,000 prize pool distributes as:

Stage Reached Prize Money
Champion £200,000
Runner-Up £100,000
Semi-Finalists £50,000
Quarter-Finalists £30,000

Key First-Round Matches

  • Luke Humphries (1) vs Gian van Veen
  • Michael van Gerwen (3) vs Raymond van Barneveld (Dutch Derby)
  • Teen sensation Luke Littler (2) begins title quest vs Ryan Searle

Road to the Final

Projected Quarter-Final Matchups:

  1. Humphries vs Nathan Aspinall (2019 champion)
  2. Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey
  3. Michael van Gerwen vs Josh Rock (youth rivalry)
  4. Luke Littler vs Peter Wright

Broadcast Details

Coverage spans:

  • BBC Sport digital platforms
  • PDC TV worldwide stream
  • Primetime TV slots on BBC Two

The tournament uses unique "double-start" format requiring players to begin and finish on doubles throughout matches.

Relation Darts Schedule
2025-10-17 Friday

Deportes Quindio

08:00 Colombia, Primera B - Finalización, Round 14

Call

08:00

Tigres

Sharjah SC

21:05 UAE, UAE Pro League, Round 6

Call

21:05

Al Dhafra

2025-10-19 Sunday

Fulham

00:30 England, Premier League, Round 8

Call

00:30

Arsenal

Angers

01:00 France, Ligue 1, Round 8

Call

01:00

Monaco

Olympique de Marseille

03:05 France, Ligue 1, Round 8

Call

03:05

Le Havre

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