Betfred World Matchplay 2023 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
Michael van Gerwen launches the defence of his World Matchplay title on a star-studded opening Sunday in Blackpool.
Day Two of the sport’s summer showpiece features a bumper double session at the Winter Gardens, as a host of decorated darters look to avert an early exit.
Van Gerwen became only the second player in the 29-year history of the event to lift this trophy for a third time when he triumphed 12 months ago, and the Dutchman commences his quest to retain the crown in the evening session.
Van Gerwen is vying to defend the World Matchplay title for the second time, having initially done so in 2016, in what is his 15th appearance in the event.
The world number three secured a record-breaking seventh Premier League title in May and has also tasted success at the US Masters and Poland Masters in the World Series.
He starts his campaign here with a tie against veteran Brendan Dolan – making his ninth Matchplay appearance after claiming the penultimate ProTour qualification spot.
The eight-time Players Championship event winner last tasted victory on this stage in 2016 and was beaten 10-7 by MVG when the pair met in the opening round behind closed doors in 2020.
The evening session also features a show-down between reigning World Champion Michael Smith and former Lakeside Champion Steve Beaton.
Smith has enjoyed a whirlwind eight months since ending his long wait for a first major title at the Grand Slam last November, going on to fulfil his darting destiny at Alexandra Palace in January, while also adding a World Series title in Bahrain, European Tour and ProTour silverware this season.
The world number one came closest to lifting this trophy in 2019 when he finished runner-up to Rob Cross and is looking to join Phil Taylor as the only player to have won both the World Championship and World Matchplay in the same calendar year.
Beaton makes his return following a two-year absence from the event to make a staggering 22nd appearance in the World Matchplay, having made his debut back in 1998.
The 59-year-old enjoyed his best run here in 2001 when he reached the Semi-Finals, and notably defeated Smith 11-7 to reach the Quarter-Finals in 2016.
The opening tie of the evening session sees ninth seed Nathan Aspinall face former semi-finalist Krzysztof Ratajski.
Aspinall enjoyed an impressive return to the Premier League this year, finishing fifth in the league table, and also finished runner-up at the German Darts Grand Prix in April.
Aspinall, twice a major finalist last year, has lost in back-to-back Quarter-Finals at the World Matchplay and faces a tough opener against the Polish number one.
Ratajski enjoyed his best run in a PDC major when he reached the semis here in 2021 and recently clinched his tenth PDC ranking title on the ProTour.
World number six Luke Humphries opens with a clash against former Grand Slam champion Jose de Sousa in what promises to be a heavy-scoring epic.
Humphries has once again produced his blistering best on the European Tour in 2023, losing in four finals before stopping the rot at the European Matchplay in Trier a fortnight ago to land his fifth Euro Tour crown.
He then opened his Players Championship account for the season by winning Event 15 in Leicester last Monday, hitting a nine-darter along the way.
Portuguese star De Sousa is making his fourth consecutive World Matchplay appearance, having reached the Quarter-Finals last time out, and was runner-up in a Players Championship event in April.
The afternoon session includes a mouth-watering tie between 14th seed Damon Heta and the top ProTour qualifier – Josh Rock.
Former World Cup of Darts winner Heta is searching for his first win at this venue at the third attempt and comes into the competition in a rich vein of form after winning two of the last three Players Championship events.
Rock is one of two debutants in this year’s field and has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last 18 months, winning the World Youth Championship and a Players Championship title, as well as finishing runner-up in a European Tour event this season.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman hit a nine-dart finish in last November’s Grand Slam and is now firmly established among the world’s top 32.
James Wade, the 2007 World Matchplay champion, begins his 18th consecutive campaign with a tie against Masters champion Chris Dobey.
Wade has lost in a further five finals at the Winter Gardens, most recently in 2015, but has reached just one Quarter-Final since and will be determined to improve on that below-par recent record.
The ten-time major winner was a semi-finalist in the European Matchplay a fortnight ago and heads into this event as the world number 16, having not dropped out of that elite bracket since 2005.
A highly-charged encounter sees 11th seed Dirk van Duijvenbode come up against Belgian stalwart Kim Huybrechts.
Van Duijvenbode has enjoyed a prolific season so far, storming to three Players Championship titles, as well as two European Tour finals – suffering agonising 8-7 defeats in both.
The power-scoring Dutchman was a quarter-finalist here last time out, defeating Michael Smith along the way, and will be keen to bring his blistering best form onto the big stage this year.
Huybrechts returns for his ninth World Matchplay appearance, but the Winter Gardens has not proved to be a happy hunting ground for the 37-year-old – who has registered just one win here in more than a decade.
The Hurricane ended an eight-year wait for a ranking title at Players Championship 3 in February and occupied the 16th and final ProTour spot for this event.
The opening fixture of the day sees eighth seed Danny Noppert take on German number two Martin Schindler.
Noppert embarked on a sensational run to the Semi-Finals 12 months ago, defeating Brendan Dolan, Daryl Gurney and Dirk van Duijvenbode before eventually bowing out to Gerwyn Price.
The former UK Open champion has been solid if not spectacular so far this year, picking up a third ProTour title back in February and reaching the Semi-Finals of the European Darts Open.
Schindler is eyeing his first win here at the second time of asking, having qualified as the second highest ProTour player, reaching a Euro Tour Semi-Final this year as well as the Semi-Finals of the recent World Cup alongside Gabriel Clemens.
The action gets under way from 1pm BST, with First Round matches to be contested over the best of 19 legs.
All matches must be won by two clear legs, with a match being extended if necessary for a maximum of six extra legs before a sudden death leg is required. For example, in a first to ten First Round match, if the score reaches 12-12 then the 25th leg will be the sudden death decider.
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World Matchplay 2023 Day Two Schedule
Sunday July 16
First Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Danny Noppert v Martin Schindler
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Kim Huybrechts
Damon Heta v Josh Rock
James Wade v Chris Dobey
Evening Session (7.30pm-11.30pm)
Nathan Aspinall v Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Humphries v Jose de Sousa
Michael van Gerwen v Brendan Dolan
Michael Smith v Steve Beaton
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