The 2016

BetVictor BetVictor, founded in 1946, is an online gambling company based in Gibraltar, owned by British businessman and racehorse owner Michael Tabor. It provides services such as sports betting and online casinos. History The company was founded ...

World Matchplay was the 23rd annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the

Professional Darts Corporation The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is a professional darts organisation in the United Kingdom, established in 1992 when a group of leading players split from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form what was initially called the Wor ...

. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens,

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...

, from 16–24 July 2016.

Michael van Gerwen Michael van Gerwen (; born 25 April 1989) is a Dutch professional darts player, who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number three; he was ranked world number one from 20 ...

successfully defended his World Matchplay title by defeating Phil Taylor 18–10 in the final. It was the first (and would turn out to be, only) time that Taylor has been defeated in a World Matchplay final. Van Gerwen also became only the third player to successfully defend the Matchplay trophy after Taylor and Rod Harrington. The second round was also reduced in length from best of 25 legs to best of 21 legs. This still remains the current format for the World Matchplay. This tournament was the first time in the event's history that no matches went into 'extra legs', the first time that Taylor had been defeated in the final after winning his previous 15, and the first time that Robert Thornton won a match at the event. It was also the first time that James Wade was defeated before the World Matchplay quarter finals, after losing to Mervyn King in the first round.

Prize money

The prize fund remained at £450,000 as it has been since the 2014 event.

Format

In previous stagings of the event all games had to be won by two clear legs with no sudden-death legs. However, in 2013 after consulting the host broadcaster

Sky Sports Sky Sports is a group of British broadcasting of sports events, subscription sports channels operated by the satellite television, satellite pay television company Sky Group (a division of Comcast), and is the dominant subscription television ...

, the PDC decided that games will now only proceed for a maximum of six extra legs before a tie-break leg is required. For example, in a best of 19 legs first round match, if the score reaches 12–12 then the 25th leg will be the decider.

Qualification

PDC Order of Merit Top 16

(winner) # Gary Anderson ''(semi-finals)'' # Phil Taylor ''(runner-up)'' #

Adrian Lewis Adrian Lewis (born 21 January 1985) is an English professional darts player who formerly competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Nicknamed "Jackpot", he is a two-time PDC World Champion, having won the title in 2011 and 2012. ...

''(semi-finals)'' # Peter Wright ''(quarter-finals)'' # James Wade ''(first round)'' # Michael Smith ''(second round)'' # Robert Thornton ''(second round)'' #

Dave Chisnall David Chisnall (born 12 September 1980) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number twelve; he reached a peak ranking of world number five in ...

''(quarter-finals)'' # Jelle Klaasen ''(first round)'' #

Raymond van Barneveld Raymond van Barneveld (born 20 April 1967) is a Dutch professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he was ranked world number one from January 2008 to June 2008. Nicknamed "Barney", he is a five-t ...

''(first round)'' # Ian White ''(second round)'' # Kim Huybrechts ''(first round)'' # Stephen Bunting ''(first round)'' # Terry Jenkins ''(second round)'' # Vincent van der Voort ''(first round)''

PDC ProTour qualifiers

# Benito van de Pas ''(first round)'' # Mensur Suljović ''(second round)'' #

Gerwyn Price Gerwyn Price (born 7 March 1985) is a Welsh professional darts player and former professional rugby union and rugby league player. He competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world ...

''(second round)'' # Alan Norris ''(first round)'' #

Simon Whitlock Simon Whitlock (born 3 March 1969) is an Australian professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, having previously competed in British Darts Organisation (BDO) events. Nicknamed "The Wizard", he won th ...

''(first round)'' # Joe Cullen ''(first round)'' #

Daryl Gurney Daryl Gurney (born 22 March 1986) is a Northern Irish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number twenty-five; he reached a peak ranking of world number thre ...

''(first round)'' # Mervyn King ''(quarter-finals)'' # Steve Beaton ''(quarter-finals)'' #

Justin Pipe Justin Pipe (born 9 November 1971) is an English former professional darts player who competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won six PDC titles. Playing career Pipe was a Boxing, boxer in his youth, and, as a staunch anti- ...

''(first round)'' # Mark Webster ''(first round)'' # Jamie Caven ''(first round)'' # Kyle Anderson ''(second round)'' # Brendan Dolan ''(second round)'' # Josh Payne ''(first round)'' # Robbie Green ''(first round)''

Draw

References

External links

PDC Netzone
Schedule and results {{2016 in PDC darts World Matchplay (darts) World Matchplay World Matchplay