There are three places in the Betfred World Matchplay up for grabs at this weekend’s Czech Darts Open, as the race for Winter Gardens qualification reaches its climax.
Continue reading “World Matchplay Qualification Update!”
The 2018 BetVictor World Matchplay gets underway at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool in just under a fortnight’s time. Josh’s Dartistry picks out four of the most intriguing first-round ties and runs the rule over the respective tussles…. Continue reading “World Matchplay 2018: The Four Standout Ties!”
Phil Taylor bid an emotional farewell to the World Matchplay by claiming an unprecedented 16th Winter Gardens title, after producing an imperious display to thrash Peter Wright 18-8 on a memorable night of action in Blackpool on Sunday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay: Finals Day Report!”
Phil Taylor’s World Matchplay fairy-tale continued as he recorded one of the finest victories of his illustrious career to dismantle Michael van Gerwen and set up a semi-final showdown against his former protégé Adrian Lewis at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Friday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay: Day Seven Report!”
Phil Taylor punished missed doubles from his old adversary Raymond van Barneveld to set up a quarter-final showdown with defending champion Michael van Gerwen, as Adrian Lewis and Alan Norris also triumphed on a dramatic night of action at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Wednesday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay: Day Five Report!”
Michael van Gerwen kicked off his bid for a third consecutive World Matchplay crown with a comprehensive win over former Lakeside world champion Stephen Bunting, as Adrian Lewis, Rob Cross and Simon Whitlock all recorded victories on the final night of first-round action at the Winter Gardens on Monday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay: Day Three Report!”
Phil Taylor kicked off his final World Matchplay campaign with victory over Gerwyn Price, to set up an enthralling second-round showdown with his old rival Raymond van Barneveld after a thrilling double-session at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay: Day Two Report!”
Gerwyn Price has bullishly claimed that Phil Taylor will be ‘worried’ about facing him, as ‘The Power’ prepares to begin his final World Matchplay campaign against the Welshman on Sunday evening at the Winter Gardens. Continue reading “Price: ‘Taylor will be more worried about me!’”
Former champion James Wade and Scottish stars Gary Anderson and Peter Wright will open the BetVictor World Matchplay on Saturday July 22nd, whilst defending champion Michael van Gerwen will begin his title defence on Monday 24th July, after the schedule of play was confirmed last week. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay Schedule of Play!”
Michael van Gerwen will begin the defence of his BetVictor World Matchplay title against former Lakeside world champion Stephen Bunting, as Phil Taylor’s Blackpool farewell kicks off with a potential banana-skin against Gerwyn Price, after the draw for this month’s event at the Winter Gardens was made on Tuesday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay Draw!”
Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson produced impressive performances to ease through to the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay, whilst Steve Beaton and Mervyn King rolled back the years at the Winter Gardens on Wednesday evening.
Taylor’s quest for an unprecedented 16th Matchplay crown continued with a comprehensive 11-5 victory over Mensur Suljovic. After a shaky opening-round win against Robbie Green, ‘The Power’ was much improved against the Austrian, averaging 101 and converting 48% of his attempts at double.
Taylor raced into a 3-0 advantage, but Suljovic responded impressively and cut the deficit to 3-2 at the next interval. ‘The Power’ then won four of the next five legs, to establish a commanding 7-3 cushion.
Suljovic continued to display great tenacity, converting finishes of 103 and 104 to remain in contention, but the 55-year-old Stoke star was unperturbed, firing in his fourth maximum and taking out 68 to seal victory, and book a place in the last eight on Friday.
World champion Gary Anderson began his bid for a maiden World Matchplay crown with a comprehensive win over Alan Norris, whilst Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright also eased through to round-two. However, former winner James Wade suffered a surprise first-round exit at the Winter Gardens on Sunday.
Wade was beaten by an inspired Mervyn King in the opening match of Sunday’s evening session. ‘The King’ averaged 99.45, hit three maximums and converted an impressive 67% of his attempts at double, to dethrone ‘The Machine’ by a 10-5 scoreline.
Wade was uncharacteristically profligate on the doubles, as King stormed into a commanding 6-1 advantage. The left-hander missed three darts at double in the opening leg, and King capitalised on his opponent’s wastefulness, taking out finishes of 82, 100 and 120 to put one foot into the last 16.
Wade scored strongly in the latter stages of the contest, but it was to no avail. King missed D8 for a match-winning 136 outshot, and he was almost punished as Wade wired the bullseye for a 161 finish. However, King, a semi-finalist at the Winter Gardens in 2009, returned to post D4 and seal his second-round spot.
Phil Taylor dispelled any concerns about his supposed ‘lack of form’ as he eased past Dave Chisnall to reach the World Matchplay semi-finals at the Winter Gardens.
Taylor averaged 102.71, defying an impressive 102.94 from Chisnall to record an emphatic 16-8 victory and set up another Winter Gardens meeting against James Wade on Saturday night.
Continue reading “Masterful Taylor leaves Chizzy feeling Dizzy!”
Michael van Gerwen kept his hopes of winning his maiden World Matchplay alive, as he came back from 6-1 down to edge out Ian White in a thrilling quarter-final at the Winter Gardens.
Van Gerwen did not lead until the 21st leg of the match, but he demonstrated why he is the World Number 1; producing the goods in the decisive moments, to secure a 16-13 victory against a valiant White.
Van Gerwen will meet old adversary Peter Wright in Saturday’s semi-final, after Snakebite produced a fine performance to secure a comprehensive 16-7 victory over Gerwyn Price.
Continue reading “van Gerwen Prevails In Winter Gardens Classic to set up Semi with Snakebite!”
Gerwyn Price produced the performance of his darting career to stun two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis in the second round of the World Matchplay last night.
Former Rugby Union star Price was in inspired form and averaged over 110 for the first ten legs, before he maintained his composure in the latter stages to complete a shock 13-10 victory against the 2013 Matchplay finalist.
Continue reading “Gerwyn hits the Jackpot as Lewis pays the Price!”