Pack your bucket and spade – and novelty 180 glasses – as we’re off to Blackpool this weekend for the start of the 2022 World Matchplay Darts!
32 of the world’s best dart-ists will line up inside the Winter Gardens for a chance of major glory and to lift the esteemed Phil Taylor trophy inside one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
The six last editions of the World Matchplay have spat out six different winners, proving the depth of talent in the PDC at the moment, as well as how this popular tournament can spring more than a surprise or two.
World champion Peter Wright is the reigning Matchplay champion after a successful 2021 tournament and will take to the oche on Friday alongside three other matches to kick-start the 2022 event.
Let’s take a look at the best tips and picks for Day 1′s play in Blackpool:
Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting (July 16, 19:00)
Over 17.5 legs at 6/4 with bet365
Krzysztof Ratajski arrives in Blackpool as the lowest of the 16 seeds, meaning Stephen Bunting will be licking his lips at this first round draw.
“The Bullet” is known for blowing hot and cold on the tour, but after reaching two major semi-finals in 2021 will be keen to keep this momentum flowing as we head into the busy stretch of darts events.
Bunting is a former quarter-finalist at the Matchplay and should be able to push Ratajski – who was a semi-finalist last year – the distance.
These two last met early in 2021, with Bunting edging a close 5-3 match at the World Championships.
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World Matchplay Darts
This could be a close one so we're going high in the Total Legs market
At 6/4 a £10 bet would return £25
Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting
July 16, 2022
7:00 pm GMT+1
Dimitri van den Bergh v Callan Rydz (July 16, 20:00)
Callan Rydz +2.5 handicap at 8/11 with bet365
2020 winner Dimitri van den Bergh isn’t expected to have it all his own way against Callan Rydz.
After quarter-final runs at the last Matchplay and World Championship, Rydz is proving himself as a man for the big occasion and will be quick to jump on any mistakes from the Belgian.
Van den Bergh has gone off the boil in 2022, with wins at the World Series events in Denmark and Netherlands keeping his head above water.
We like the look of the 2.5 handicap for Rydz in a mini-classic.
World Matchplay Darts
Callan Rydz looks worth a nibble getting a +2.5 leg handicap start
At 8/11 a £10 bet would return £17.27
Dimitri van den Bergh v Callan Rydz
July 16, 2022
8:00 pm GMT+1
Peter Wright v Madars Razma
Over 129.5 checkout at 5/6 with bet365
(July 16, 21:00)
Despite claiming to have played “rubbish” in 2022, it’s still impossible not to consider Wright as a potential winner for every tournament he enters.
The World Matchplay is no different, with “Snakebite” arriving in Blackpool as the reigning champion.
Latvian Madars Razma qualified for the Matchplay by the skin of his teeth, and without a run into the latter stages of a major tournament, it’s hard to envisage Razma taking the scalp of a player like Wright.
We’ll leave the outright markets alone due to a lack of value, but a +129.5 checkout with a showman like Wright playing looks good.
World Matchplay Darts
We're expecting a high checkout in this match
At 5/6 a £10 bet would return £18.33
Peter Wright v Madars Razma
July 16, 2022
9:00 pm GMT+1
Jonny Clayton v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Jonny Clayton 10-4 Rowby-John Rodriguez correct score at 15/2 (boosted) with bet365
(July 16, 22:00)
You’ll be hard pushed to find a more consistent player in world darts at the moment than Jonny Clayton.
The “Ferret” won four major titles in 2021 and has already reached two semi-finals and a final in 2022.
Rowby-John Rodriguez is the lowest ranked in the field and at 28 is still looking to peak in his career following early exit after early exit at the majors.
It’s the Austrian’s debut season at the Matchplay and Clayton won’t be in the mood to mess around as he looks to add to his growing collection.
World Matchplay Darts
This should be a routine win for The 'Ferret'
At 15/2 a £10 bet would return £85
Jonny Clayton v Rowby-John Rodriguez
July 16, 2022
10:00 pm GMT+1
* Odds correct at the time of writing. Betting odds are subject to change.
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