World Matchplay Darts 2026 - Schedule, draw and prize money
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The 2026 World Matchplay Darts starts on Saturday, 18 July at Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The 32-player event is one of the Professional Darts Corporation's (PDC) eight major events of the darting calendar.
Luke Littler is the defending champion after winning the Phil Taylor Trophy 12 months ago. The teenage world number one has also won the first three majors in 2026.
There is also a women's event played on the final day of the tournament on Sunday, 26 July. Lisa Ashton is the reigning champion following a win over Fallon Sherrock in last year's final.
Here is everything you need to know on the format, draw and prize money.
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How does the World Matchplay work?
In 2025, Luke Littler became the ninth different player in as many years to win the World Matchplay
The tournament consists of 32 players. They are made up of the 16 highest-ranked players from the PDC's Order of Merit and the 16 best players from this year's ProTour Order of Merit who had not yet qualified.
The draw has been seeded, with the top 16-ranked players all kept apart in the opening round.
In the women's tournament, the best eight players from the Women's Series tour qualify.
Both competitions are straight knockout events, meaning winners progress and losers are eliminated.
The tournament is played in legs rather than sets. The number of required to win a match increases after every round in the mixed competition and increases after the semi-finals for the women's competition.
Victories are by two clear legs, with a sudden death leg to be used in the event that the two players cannot be separated after a certain number of legs.
World Matchplay format
First round: Best of 19 legs (sudden death at 12-12)
Second round: Best of 21 legs (sudden death at 13-13)
Quarter-finals: Best of 31 legs (sudden death at 18-18)
Semi-finals: Best of 33 legs (sudden death at 19-19)
Final: Best of 35 legs (sudden death at 20-20)
Women's World Matchplay format
Quarter-finals: Best of 9 legs
Semi-finals: Best of 9 legs
Final: Best of 11 legs
What is the prize money?
The trophy is named after Phil Taylor, who is the World Matchplay's most successful player ever with 16 title wins
For the World Matchplay competition, the prize money has increased by £200,000 in total to £1m. In 2025, the total prize pot was at £800,000.
The winner will win £225,000 in prize money, an increase of £25,000 from 12 months ago.
World Matchplay prize money
Winner - £225,000
Runner-up - £125,000
Semi-final losers - £65,000
Quarter-final losers - £35,000
Second round losers - £22,500
First round losers - £12,000
The prize pool for the women's competition has significantly increased from £25,000 to £40,000, with the winner taking £15,000.
The winner of the women's competition will also qualify for the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts and the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship.
Women's World Matchplay prize money
Winner - £15,000
Runner-up - £8,000
Semi-final losers - £4,500
Quarter-final losers - £2,000
World Matchplay Darts - draw, schedule & results
Round one results
(8) Josh Rock 10-4 Luke Woodhouse
(9) Stephen Bunting 13-12 Niels Zonneveld
(1) Luke Littler 10-6 Niko Springer
(16) Nathan Aspinall 10-5 Joe Cullen
(13) Chris Dobey 11-13 Dirk van Duijvenbode
(12) Gary Anderson 10-2 Ryan Joyce
(4) Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Andrew Gilding
(5) Jonny Clayton 10-7 Damon Heta
(11) Ryan Searle 10-6 William O'Connor
(6) James Wade 10-7 Jermaine Wattimena
(3) Gian van Veen 10-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
(14) Wessel Nijman 10-5 Dave Chisnall
(15) Ross Smith 10-6 Kevin Doets
(7) Gerwyn Price 11-9 Martin Schindler
(2) Luke Humphries 7-10 Cameron Menzies
(10) Danny Noppert 3-10 Rob Cross
Round two
Tuesday, 21 July – 19:15 BST
(5) Jonny Clayton v Gary Anderson (12)
(4) Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(1) Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall (16)
(8) Josh Rock v Stephen Bunting (9)
Wednesday, 22 July - 19:15 BST
Cameron Menzies v (15) Ross Smith
(3) Gian van Veen v Wessel Nijman (14)
(7) Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross
(6) James Wade v Ryan Searle (11)
Quarter-finals
Thursday, 23 July – 20:05 BST
Two matches
Friday, 24 July – 20:05 BST
Two matches
Semi-finals
Saturday, 25 July – 20:05 BST
Two matches
Final
Sunday, 26 July – 20:05 BST
One match
Women's World Matchplay schedule
Sunday, 26 July – 13:00 BST
Quarter-finals
Beau Greaves (1) v Kirsi Viinikainen (8)
Gemma Hayter (4) v Vicky Pruim (5)
Lisa Ashton (2) v Rhian O'Sullivan (7)
Fallon Sherrock (3) v Deta Hedman (6)
Semi-finals
Greaves/Viinikainen v Hayter/Pruim
Ashton/O'Sullivan v Sherrock/Hedman
Final
Greaves/Viinikainen/Hayter/Pruim v Ashton/O'Sullivan/Sherrock/Hedman
Who are the previous World Matchplay winners?
Lisa Ashton became the third winner of the women's World Matchplay in 2025
Last 10 World Matchplay winners
2025 – Luke Littler
2024 – Luke Humphries
2023 – Nathan Aspinall
2022 – Michael van Gerwen
2021 – Peter Wright
2020 – Dimitri van den Bergh
2019 – Rob Cross
2018 – Gary Anderson
2017 – Phil Taylor
2016 – Michael van Gerwen
Every women's World Matchplay winner
2025 – Lisa Ashton
2024 – Beau Greaves
2023 – Beau Greaves
2022 – Fallon Sherrock
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
