2019 World MatchPlay Preview

Posted: 18.07.19 in Tournament Analysis Blog category

The 2019 World Matchplay starts on Saturday, here is our preview.

It’s that time of year again when darts should be getting ready for a little respite over July and August, but then the World Matchplay looms up on the horizon. Blackpool is the home of course for this very popular event and this year should be as fascinating as all those that have gone before.

Back in the day this was of course Phil Taylor’s tournament, he amazingly won it in his retirement year to claim his 16th Matchplay title. Incredible. For the majority of the finals The Power was in he used to start as odds on favourite such was his supremacy. We also saw this with MVG as he took over Phil’s legacy of the man to beat. It is refreshing then that the favourite, yes MVG of course can be backed at 13/8. He is as low as 11/10 but there is a little bit of doubt in the bookies’ minds. Van Gerwen is not going into the event with much momentum behind him.

Since his Premier League triumph, he lost the Dutch Masters Final and went out at the semi final stage of the World Cup. He reached the Last 32 of the Czech Open and most recently the Last 16 of the German Open. Not a record you would associate with the Green Machine. On the other hand, Peter Wright is the opposite scenario.

Snakebite goes into the event after grabbing three titles in 5 days. A win in Germany then two Players Championships completed the dream prep for Wright. At a standout 12/1 in the opposite side of the draw to Anderson and MVG he looks like an ideal candidate with a bit of each way insurance to invest in.

🐍🏆 WINNER 🏆🐍

Peter Wright wins Players Championship 20 with an incredible 8-1 victory over Joe Cullen!

A third title in five days for Peter Wright on a day where he's posted SIX consecutive ton-plus averages including a 105.3 in the final! pic.twitter.com/3TEz9CLJEA

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 17, 2019

In the bottom half of the draw Wright may have to overcome 2 and 3 seeds, Cross and Gurney along with Price, White and Ratajski who will all fancy their chances. If you think that is tough then the top half is the group of death. Anderson, Wade, De Zwaan, Smith, Chisnall, Lewis, I won’t go on. Aspinall, Hopp, whoops, sorry. This will boggle your mind – Glen Durrant 50/1!

When was the last time Duzza set off at that price? Terrifying! We have, arguably, the highest standard of personnel ever to grace the famous Blackpool stage. Whoever triumphs will deserve it. Here is how it will pan out. Enjoy!

2019 Betfred World Matchplay Draw Bracket

(1) Michael van Gerwen v Steve Beaton

(16) Adrian Lewis v Glen Durrant

(8) James Wade v Jeffrey de Zwaan

(9) Mensur Suljovic v Jermaine Wattimena

(5) Michael Smith v Jamie Hughes

(12) Dave Chisnall v Max Hopp

(4) Gary Anderson v Danny Noppert

(13) Nathan Aspinall v Mervyn King

(2) Rob Cross v Chris Dobey

(15) Darren Webster v Krzysztof Ratajski

(7) Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting

(10) Ian White v Joe Cullen

(6) Peter Wright v Vincent van der Voort

(11) Simon Whitlock v John Henderson

(3) Daryl Gurney v Ricky Evans

(14) Jonny Clayton v Keegan Brown

Selected Outright Odds

MVG 13/8

Cross 8/1

Anderson 10/1

Wright 12/1

Price 20/1

Aspinall 22/1

Durrant 50/1

Ratakski 66/1

Opening Night Fixtures Saturday July 20 (1900 BST)

Nathan Aspinall v Mervyn King

Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting

Gary Anderson v Danny Noppert

Rob Cross v Chris Dobey

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