The PDC World Matchplay darts betting odds are in focus at the moment with the 2022 renewal of this popular tournament going down in the northwest of England.
In this PDC World Matchplay darts betting preview, we take a look at some of the key players in this year’s line-up.
We also dive into some history of the event, which has a huge following and take a look at the latest odds.
PDC World Matchplay Darts Betting Odds
Michael van Gerwen 6/1
Peter Wright 11/2
Dimitri Van den Berg 6/1
Gerwyn Price 7/1
Jonny Clayton 9/1
Michael Smith 10/1
Rob Cross 18/1
Danny Noppert 20/1
Dirk Van Duijvenbode 22/1
Joe Cullen 28/1
Nathan Aspinall 28/1
Dave Chisnall 28/1
33/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:29 GMT on July 18th, 2022 at 888Sport)
When & Where is the 2022 World Matchplay Darts?
The World matchplay darts is back at its usual home again this year, which is the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. That’s the venue at which all but one of its previous editions had been held at.
The one exception was in 20202 when it was temporarily switched to Milton Keynes.
The World Matchplay darts tournament started on July 16th and the Final is booked for July 24th, 2022.
2022 World Matchplay Darts Details
The first edition of the World Matchplay Darts was held in 1994, an event that was won by American Larry Butler against the odds.
In the following year, the great Phil Taylor world recorded his first ever World Matchplay title.
It was one of a remarkable sixteen tournament wins that Taylor would earn in his career from a total of 24 appearances.
To put that into context, just two other players in the history of the tournament have managed to win it twice (Rod Harrington, and Michael van Gerwen).
The former of the World Matchplay darts is Legs
- First Round – Best of 19
- Second Round – Bests of 21
- Quarter Finals – Best of 31
- Semi-Finals – Best of 33
- Final – Best of 35
A player has to win by two clear legs for a match victory. If that’s not the case then there are up to six extra legs that will be contested. If things are not settled then, the match will go to a tie-break leg.
PDC World Matchplay Darts Seeds
- Peter Wright
- Gerwyn Price
- Michael Smith
- Michael van Gerwen
- James Wade
- Gary Anderson
- José de Sousa
- Jonny Clayton
Who is the reigning PDC Darts World Matchplay champion?
Peter Wright is the reigning champion at the World Match Play. He earned his first-ever title in the tournament last year with a victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Van den Bergh, was at the time, the reigning World Champion himself.
It was a comfortable victory for ‘Snakebite’ as he started the match strongly and never looked back.
At the second break in the match, Peter Wright was 8-2 ahead of his opponent.
While Van den Bergh did pull it back to 8-12, from there, Wright raced to the finish, not conceding another leg.
On the path to victory, Peter Wright had also claimed big victories over 7th seed Michael Smith and 3rd seed Michael van Gerwen.
Who will win the 2022 World Matchplay Darts?
Having looked at the history of the tournament and recent winners, it’s now time to size up the 2022 field at the Winter Gardens.
Who is the most likely to saunter their way to success in this exciting tournament?
It’s a long, gruelling experience for the players, as matches get longer and longer. Our darts betting experts dig through the field.
Peter Wright
Peter Wright is the reigning World Champion after taking that title back at the start of the year.
That’s the only televised final that he has been to this season.
There is a quote of 11/2 on Wright to win outright in World Matchplay darts betting odds* (odds recorded at 21:29 GMT on July 18th, 2022 at 888Sport).
Wright does, overall, have a very strong record at the World Matchplay.
He has only fallen short of the Quarter Finals in one of his last seven appearances.
Wright has been to the Final of the World Matchplay twice before.
He’s not to be written off, but he could bump into old foe Michael van Gerwen in the semifinals.
Last 10 World Matchplay Darts Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Losing Finalist | Score |
| 2021 | Peter Wright | Scotland | Dimitri Van den Bergh | 18-9 |
| 2020 | Dimitri Van den Bergh | Belgium | Gary Anderson | 18-10 |
| 2019 | Rob Cross | England | Michael Smith | 18-13 |
| 2018 | Gary Anderson | Scotland | Mensur Suljovic | 21-19 |
| 2017 | Phil Taylor | England | Peter Wright | 18-8 |
| 2016 | Michael van Gerwen | Netherlands | Phil Taylor | 18-10 |
| 2015 | Michael van Gerwen | Netherlands | James Wade | 18-12 |
| 2014 | Phil Taylor | England | Michael van Gerwen | 18-9 |
| 2013 | Phil Taylor | England | Adrian Lewis | 18-13 |
| 2012 | Phil Taylor | England | James Wade | 18-15 |
| 2011 | Phil Taylor | England | James Wade | 18-8 |
Michael van Gerwen
The Dutch maestro is the current favourite at 6/1 in World Matchplay Darts odds* (odds recorded at 21:29 GMT on July 18th, 2022 at 888Sport).
There has been a title for him this year, as Van Gerwen took the Premier League Darts Crown by one leg over Joe Cullen in an epic showdown.
That was the first televised title for Van Gerwen since 2020.
Since winning the World Matchplay back to back in 2015 and then 2016, ‘Mighty Mike’ hasn’t been back to the final of the tournament.
There’s a tricky draw for him to work his way through as well this year, most notably a potential semi-final clash with Wright.
Gerwyn Price
‘The Iceman’ Gerwyn Price has been consistent this year, having reached at least the Quarter Finals in all but one of his five televised tournament appearances.
Last year the Welshman reached the Quarter Finals of the World Matchplay for just the second time in his career.
It has been one of his weaker tournaments when looking back across his ranking events.
Price hasn’t quite been as sharp this season as last.
But a favourable draw gives him more than a reasonable shot of at least marking at Quarter Final return.
Gerwyn Price is a 7/1 contender in the tournament outright for darts betting* (odds recorded at 21:29 GMT on July 18th, 2022 at 888Sport).
Dimitri Van den Bergh
The Belgian appears to have found a nice groove in this tournament having reached the final in the last two years.
Those have been his only two appearances in the World Matchplay.
While he couldn’t follow up on his 2020 title last year, just getting back to that stage in 2022 looks tough.
That having been said, he’s a short 6/1 quote in World Matchplay Darts odds 2022* (odds recorded at 21:29 GMT on July 18th, 2022 at 888Sport).
Van den Bergh is in the top half of the draw, where Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen are also hovering.
He’s probably going to have to go through both just to reach the showcase match for the third straight year.
Michael Smith
Looking down in the bottom half of the draw, there could be a challenge put together by Michael Smith.
He’s the 3rd seed for the tournament and with a fairly comfortable-looking draw ahead of him too.
A current 10/1 outright quote, ‘Bully Boy” has reached at least the Quarter Finals in each of the last three editions.
His best finish was as the losing finalist in 2019.
Smith has been the losing finalist in both the PDC World Championships and the UK Open this year. He’s been getting closer to breaking through for his first televised event title.
Key Facts – World Matchplay Darts trends
- In each of the last four years there has been a first-time winner of the tournament
- The only active Englishman to win the tournament since 2014 is Rob Cross (2019)
- Michael van Gerwen is the only active player to have won the tournament twice
- Three of the last four Finals have featured at least one first-time finalist
888Sport 4/1 Winner
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