Field confirmed for 2023 Betfred World Matchplay
The field of players for the 2023 World Matchplay has been confirmed, with Josh Rock and Mike De Decker set to make their debuts in Blackpool.
The 30th edition of the tournament will see 32 players battle it out for an £800,000 prize fund at the Winter Gardens from July 15-23.
The top 16 players in the main Order of Merit will be joined in Tuesday’s draw by 16 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Order of Merit.
Reigning World Champion Michael Smith will be the number one seed, while defending champion Michael van Gerwen is seeded third as he bids to claim a fourth World Matchplay crown.
Former winners Rob Cross, Dimitri Van den Bergh and James Wade are also among the seeded stars.
Last year’s runner-up Gerwyn Price, who also landed a nine-darter, is the fourth seed, while his World Cup-winning team-mate Jonny Clayton is the seventh seed.
Masters champion Chris Dobey and UK Open winner Andrew Gilding are among the ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers, based on prize money won in European Tour events and Players Championships in the last year.
World Youth Champion Rock will look to continue his remarkable rise after being the leading ProTour Order of Merit qualifier and is joined by fellow debutant De Decker – who joins Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts as the third Belgian in the field.
Raymond van Barneveld makes his 13th World Matchplay appearance, with the 2010 runner-up having last competed in Blackpool five years ago.
Steve Beaton makes his return following a two-year absence from the event to make a 22nd appearance in the World Matchplay, having made his debut back in 1998.
Gary Anderson’s 15th World Matchplay appearance will see the 2018 champion unseeded in the draw for the first time since 2010.
Betfred World Matchplay 2023 Field
PDC Order of Merit Top 16 (Seeded for first round draw)
Michael Smith (1)
Peter Wright (2)
Michael van Gerwen (3)
Gerwyn Price (4)
Rob Cross (5)
Luke Humphries (6)
Jonny Clayton (7)
Danny Noppert (8)
Nathan Aspinall (9)
Dimitri Van den Bergh (10)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (11)
Dave Chisnall (12)
Joe Cullen (13)
Damon Heta (14)
Ryan Searle (15)
James Wade (16)
ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers
Josh Rock
Martin Schindler
Ross Smith
Krzysztof Ratajski
Jose de Sousa
Andrew Gilding
Gary Anderson
Stephen Bunting
Gabriel Clemens
Chris Dobey
Raymond van Barneveld
Daryl Gurney
Mike De Decker
Steve Beaton
Brendan Dolan
Kim Huybrechts
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