Mens Matchplay
Darts World Matchplay preview: Peter Wright out to defend his title
The World Matchplay gets underway in Blackpool on Saturday as five former champions take part with Peter Wright looking to defend his title against some of the World’s best including current world number two Gerwyn Price and the formidable Michael van Gerwen.
With the draw throwing up some tantalising matchups it is hard not to get excited about this year’s tournament. We preview the action below.
The frontrunners
All of the world’s best players will be on show in Blackpool with Michael van Gerwen the pick of the bunch as he heads into this year’s tournament as the 6/1 favourite.
MVG is part of one of the most exciting first round matchups as he takes on two-time world champion Adrian Lewis. The Dutchman is favourite to win the match at 4/11 with van Gerwen still in the prime of his career. “Jackpot” has been out of form for a few years now but he has shown what he can produce on the oche over many years so at 21/10 don’t count the Brit out just yet.
World Number two Gerwyn Price is third favourite for the win this year at 7/1. He is yet to win a major title in 2022 and is still seeking his maiden World Matchplay victory having only made the quarter final last year.
“The Iceman” will face Martin Schindler who is making his World Matchplay debut this year. At 2/5 Price will hope to avoid any upsets in the first round. Schindler will be happy to be involved on this stage for the first time in his career and at 19/10 he will cling onto hopes of causing an early upset this year.
2021 champion and world number one Peter Wright returns to defend his title this year and as the 6/1 joint-favourite he has every chance of doing so. “Snakebite” got his year off to a brilliant start in winning the PDC World Championship after defeating Englishman Michael Smith in the final.
In the first round Wright will face the Latvian Madars Razma who is one of four debutants in the field. All factors point towards a comfortable win for the Scotsman and at 2/7 we expect nothing less. Razma may feel slightly hard done by being drawn against the reigning champion and with odds of 5/2 it is unlikely that he will be the player to put an end to Wright’s title defence.
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Notable first round matchups
One of the most exciting first round fixtures sees world number 14 Dirk van Duijvenbode take on world number 17 Ryan Searle. Both players went out in the first round last year so they will be looking to go at least one better this time around, and in an evenly matched game with van Duijvenbode at 4/6 and Searle the slight underdog at 6/5, they will both have to be on top form to make it through.
2021 Premier League Champion Jonny Clayton will face Rowby-John Rodriguez in the first round and as fourth favourite for the title at 15/2 “The Ferret” will hope to make it through without any scares. He is the clear favourite in this tie at 2/7 while Rodriguez makes his debut at the World Matchplay and is the underdog at 13/5.
