World Matchplay Odds
Who wins the 2021 World Matchplay Darts?
World Matchplay 2020
The world of televised competitive darts will spring back into action this July, with the prestigious World Matchplay set to take place from the 18th to the 26th of July. The tournament will be the PDC’s first major televised event since the Coronavirus Pandemic caused a halt to sporting events worldwide and disrupted the darts calendar. The PDC players haven’t competed in a competitive tournament with prize money on the line since Players Championship 8 on the 15th of March, which was won by Englishman Ian White. The World Matchplay will complete a spell of over 4 months without televised darts, and bring joy to darts fans and players all over the world. The World Matchplay is one of the PDC’s premier events and is regarded as one of the most prestigious titles on the calendar, and every professional player will be hungry for a quick return to success after this long, unexpected hiatus.
This year’s tournament will feature 32 of the world’s top players, with the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit, and the top 16 players on this year’s PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit making up the field. Places in the field are still up for grabs, with the PDC hosting the Summer Series events behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes from the 8th to the 12th of July. Any player with a PDC Tour Card will be able to enter these tournaments, and every Tour Cardholder can earn money towards their ranking on the Pro Tour Order of Merit, and help boost them into contention for a place in the famous tournament. Players who were in form before the lockdown such as Ryan Searle, Jose de Sousa, Gabriel Clemens and Dimitri van Den Bergh look set to make their debut on the famous stage. 5 events will take place in this series which precedes the World Matchplay and will help indicate the players who come out of lockdown in the best form. Many players have been playing darts online using webcams throughout the Pandemic, and those players will hope to bring their virtual form into reality.
The PDC intends to announce their confirmed venue for the tournament on the 4th of July, with doubt being cast on whether the World Matchplay will be moved from its famous venue, the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. If the government allows the PDC to let fans attend the event then the tournament will grace its famous stage in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens. Should fans not be permitted to enter the event, the PDC has announced that they would intend to run the tournament behind closed doors at an alternative, appropriate venue. Despite doubts over the venue, the event has been confirmed to be taking place and will be broadcast live on television for fans to watch. World Number 1, and 3 time World Champion Michael Van Gerwen goes into the tournament as the favourite, with reigning World Champion Peter Wright being seen as the second favourite to take the trophy. Other major winners such as Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall are seen as potential winners of the event.