The World Matchplay Darts begins tonight at Blackpool's historic Winter Gardens, with defending champion Luke Humphries aiming to retain his title and claim another £200,000 prize.
The tournament, which runs until 27 July, is considered the second most prestigious event in darts. Humphries secured victory last year by defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
The champion returns alongside a strong field of competitors for the £800,000 tournament. The Winter Gardens will host 32 players competing for the Phil Taylor Trophy and substantial ranking points over the next nine days.
World Champion Luke Littler enters as tournament favourite despite suffering a first-round exit last year.
Getty | Luke Humphries is the current defending champion of the World MatchplayThe young star fell to Michael van Gerwen in the opening round in 2024, when he was outside the top 10 and had to qualify through the ProTour.
Van Gerwen went on to reach last year's final and returns seeking to go one better. The field includes former champions Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey, Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright.
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Cameron Menzies and Wessel Nijman will make their World Matchplay debuts at the Winter Gardens.
The tournament offers a total prize fund of £800,000, with the winner receiving £200,000 and the runner-up claiming £100,000.
Semi-finalists will earn £50,000, whilst quarter-finalists receive £30,000.
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Players reaching the second round secure £15,000, and first-round losers still collect £10,000. These amounts contribute to players' rankings at the tournament's conclusion.
The World Matchplay will expand next year to feature a £1 million prize fund, part of broader increases across the PDC Tour.
The overall tour prize money will rise to £7 million, following the World Championship's increase to £1 million for the winner.
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