World Matchplay Darts Prize Fund | How much money is on offer in Blackpool?
The World Matchplay is arguably darts’ second-most prestigious tournament, with the best 32 players in the world battling it out in Blackpool for the Phil Taylor trophy.
Taylor won this event a whopping 16 times and, as a result, the current crop of stars such as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen will battle it out for the trophy named in his honour.
The tournament takes place from July 18 to July 26 this year, with an increased prize fund of £1,000,000 on offer, £225,000 of which goes to the winner.
Breakdown of Current Prize Money Structure
The prize fund for this year’s World Matchplay is a whopping £1,000,000, with £225,000 of that going to the tournament’s winner.
While that is the prize all 32 players will be after, there are still impressive kitties on offer for players who depart earlier than that.
The 16 players knocked out in the first round will receive £12,500 each, while the eight who depart at the second-round stage will get £22,500.
The four beaten quarter-finalists will take home £35,000 while those unlucky two who depart at the semi-final stage will receive £65,000. The runner-up will get £125,000 as consolation for just missing out on the title.
World Matchplay 2026 Prize Fund
| Position | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Winner | £225,000 |
| Runner-up | £125,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £65,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | £35,000 |
| Second round | £22,500 |
| First round | £12,500 |
| Total Prize Fund | £1,000,000 |
Comparison Over Time
The World Matchplay’s prize fund has increased in a huge way since the inaugural staging of the event in 1994. The first winner, Larry Butler, took home £10,000 from a prize fund of £42,800, showing how far the sport and this tournament have come.
There has been a big increase even from last year when the prize fund was only £800,000 and Luke Littler took home £200,000 as the winner.
The popularity of darts has exploded in recent years and that has brought bigger TV deals, sponsorships and commercial opportunities. As a result, the top players are better remunerated than ever.
Financial Impact on Players
It is undoubtedly the best time in the sport’s history to be a dart player from a financial perspective, with the payouts bigger than ever.
The PDC increased the prize funds at all levels by £7,000,000 from last year to this, reflecting the new landscape of the sport. Dart players can also make a huge amount of money from sponsorship, exhibitions and endorsements.
Global Context
The prize fund at the World Matchplay is the third-biggest of any darts tournament, with the World Darts Championship leading the way at £5,000,000, £1,000,000 of which goes to the winner.
The Premier League prize fund is second at £1,250,000, £350,000 of which goes to the winner, while the Grand Slam of Darts is level with the Matchplay at £1,000,000.
The money on offer at the World Matchplay is similar to that of snooker’s big tournaments, with the Masters in that sport having a prize fund of £1,015,000.
