The 2025 World Matchplay gets underway at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday night, with the defending champion in action.
Luke Humphries lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy last year, beating Michael van Gerwen 18-15 in the final.
The world number one is a leading contender to claim the title again, alongside the likes of world champion Luke Littler and the bang in form Gerwyn Price.
The World Matchplay is notoriously difficult to win on more than one occasion, though, with only three players ever managing multiple Matchplay titles.
The Power dominated the event for so long, winning it 16 times, with only Van Gerwen (three) and Rod Harrington (two) boasting more than one title..
Humphries could join that very small club this year, as could James Wade, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Dimitri van den Bergh, Rob Cross and NAthan Aspinall.
Littler is favourite, though, despite never winning a match in the tournament before as he lost in the opening round to MVG on debut 12 months ago.
When is the World Matchplay?
The tournament runs from Saturday July 19 to the final on Sunday July 27.
How to watch the World Matchplay
Sky Sports will be showing the tournament, on Sky Sports Main Event and Action. Streaming is available on Sky Go and for non-Sky Sports subscribers through Now TV.
PDC World Matchplay schedule
Saturday July 19
7pm
James Wade v Joe Cullen
Danny Noppert v Cameron Menzies
Luke Humphries v Gian van Veen
Nathan Aspinall v Wessel Nijman
Sunday July 20
1pm
Damon Heta v Andrew Gilding
Rob Cross v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Peter Wright v Jermaine Wattimena
Dave Chisnall v Mike De Decker
7pm
Gary Anderson v Luke Woodhouse
Jonny Clayton v Martin Schindler
Luke Littler v Ryan Searle
Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce
Monday July 21
7pm
Chris Dobey v Ricardo Pietreczko
Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Ross Smith v Josh Rock
Tuesday July 22
Second Round – 7pm
Humphries/Van Veen v Noppert/Menzies
Aspinall/Nijman v Wade/Cullen
Bunting/Joyce v Anderson/Woodhouse
Clayton/Schindler v Chisnall/De Decker
Wednesday July 23
Second Round x4 – 7pm
Littler/Searle v Wright/Wattimena
Heta/Gilding v Cross/Van Duijvenbode
Van Gerwen/Van Barneveld v Smith/Rock
Dobey/Pietreczko v Price/Gurney
Thursday July 24
Quarter-Finals – 8pm
Friday July 25
Quarter-Finals – 8pm
Saturday July 26
Semi-Finals – 8pm
Sunday July 27
Final – 8pm
Humphries on special Matchplay victory
Speaking ahead of his title defence, Cool Hand said: ‘This would be a very, very special title to retain.
‘The World Matchplay is one of those tournaments I wanted to win more than anything, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.
‘I think the venue is so iconic, the fans all love their darts and they just create a brilliant atmosphere.
‘Some of the greatest highlights in darting history have been created at the World Matchplay, and I think that’s why it’s so prestigious.’
World Matchplay odds
Luke Littler 2/1
Luke Humphries 7/2
Gerwyn Price 8/1
Josh Rock 14/1
Michael van Gerwen 18/1
Gary Anderson 18/1
Stephen Bunting 18/1
Nathan Aspinall 22/1
Jonny Clayton 25/1
Gian van Veen 28/1
Chris Dobey 33/1
Rob Cross 50/1
Mike de Decker 50/1
Wessel Nijman 50/1
Ross Smith 50/1
Damon Heta 50/1
Dirk van Duijvenbode 50/1
Ryan Searle 66/1
Martin Schindler 66/1
James Wade 66/1
Dave Chisnall 80/1
Danny Noppert 80/1
Peter Wright 100/1
Cameron Menzies 100/1
Jermaine Wattimena 100/1
Daryl Gurney 100/1
Joe Cullen 125/1
Ryan Joyce 150/1
Andrew Gilding 150/1
Raymond van Barneveld 150/1
Luke Woodhouse 200/1
Ricardo Pietreczko 200/1
Odds courtesy of Betfred
World Matchplay Prize Money
Winner £200,000
Runner-up £100,000
Semi-finalists £50,000
Quarter-finalists £30,000
Second round £15,000
First round £10,000
