World Matchplay Darts: Draw, schedule, format and prize money confirmed as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries seek title | Darts News

Michael Van Gerwen will face Raymond Van Barneveld in a successful first round match at the World Matchplay Darts, while Luke Littler will open his campaign against Ryan Searle.

The draw for one of the biggest dart events of the year took place on Thursday and saw the triple winner Van Gerwen twin with the five -time world champion Van Barneveld in the match in phase on Monday July 21.

The tournament’s opening evening on Saturday July 19, sees the title champion Luke Humphries facing the Dutch star Rising, Gian Van Veen, while the world champion Littler faces the World 19 Searle on the first Sunday of the tournament.

The 32 qualifications for the world match were confirmed this week with former world champion Michael Smith, who reached the Blackpool semi-finals last year, missing a place.

The Blackpool Winter Gardens tournament will take place from Saturday July 19 with the final which takes place on the evening of Sunday July 27. The Women’s World match will take place earlier during the day.

Each session will be live Sky Sports.

World Matchplay Darts 2025 Draw in the first round

Luke Humphries (1) against Gian Van Veen
Danny Noppert (16) vs Cameron Menzies
Nathan Aspinall (8) against Wessel Nijman
James Wade (9) against Joe Cullen
Stephen Bunting (4) against Ryan Joyce
Gary Anderson (13) against Luke Woodhouse
Jonny Clayton (5) against Martin Schindler
Dave Chisnall (12) against Mike de Decker
Luke Little (2) against Ryan Searle
Peter Wright (15) against Jermaine Wattimena
Damon Heta (7) against Andrew Gilding
Rob Cross (10) against Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael Van Gerwen (3) against Raymond Van Barneveld
Ross Smith (14) against Josh Rock
Chris Dobey (6) vs Ricardo Pietterczko
Gerwyn Price (11) vs Daryl Gurney

Session calendar

Saturday July 19 (1900-2300)

First round X4
James Wade against Joe Cullen
Danny Noppert against Cameron Menzies
Luke Humphries V Gian Van Veen
Nathan Aspinall against Wessel Nijman

Sunday July 20

Afternoon session (1300-1700)

First round X4
Damon heta against Andrew Gilding
Rob Cross V Dirk van duijvenbode
Peter Wright against Jermaine Wattimena
Dave Chisnall against Mike de Decker

Evening session (1900-2300)

First round X4
Gary Anderson against Luke Woodhouse
Jonny Clayton against Martin Schindler
Luke Littles against Ryan Searle
Stephen Bunting against Ryan Joyce

Monday July 21 (1900-2300)

First round X4
Chris Dobey against Ricardo Pietterczko
Gerwyn Price V Daryl Gurney
Michael Van Gerwen against Raymond Van Barneveld
Ross Smith against Josh Rock

Tuesday July 22 (1900-0000)

Second round X4 – Match Order TBC
Humphries / Van Veen V Noppert / Menzies
Aspinall / nijman v wade / cullen
Bunting / Joyce against Anderson / Woodhouse
Clayton / Schindler against Chisnall / Decker

Wednesday July 23 (1900-0000)

Second round X4 – Match Order TBC
Littleler / Searle V Wright / Wattimena
Heta / gilding v cross / van duijvenbode
Van Gerwen / Van Barneveld against Smith / Rock
Dobey / Pietterczko V Price / Gurney

Thursday July 24 (2000-2300)

Quarter -finals x2

Friday July 25 (2000-2300)

Quarter -finals x2

Saturday July 26 (2000-2300)

Semi-final

Sunday July 27

Afternoon session (1300-1700)

Betfred Women’s World Matchplay

Evening session (2000-2200)

Betfred World match match final

Format

First round of the best of 19 legs
Second round of 21 legs best
Best of 31 legs final
Best of 33 legs semi-finals
Best final of 35 legs

Price

Winning £ 200,000
Finalist of £ 100,000
Semi-finalists £ 50,000
Quarter-Finalists £ 30,000
The losers of the second round £ 15,000
The losers of the first round £ 10,000

Total £ 800,000

Watch the matchplay World live on Sky Sports from July 19 to 27 or running without contract.