Luke Humphries has been installed as the new favourite to win the 2023 Betfred World Matchplay, after coming through a thrilling second round tie-break against Dirk van Duijvenbode on Wednesday.
Humphries fought back from the brink to defeat the Dutchman in an exhilarating contest, recovering from 10-7 down to progress, having survived a match dart on his way to victory.
The 28-year-old is now the highest-ranked player left standing ahead of the quarter-finals, after the top five seeds were all sent packing in an extraordinary start to the tournament.
Humphries has lifted five European Tour titles over the last 18 months, and the former World Youth Champion is a 3/1 favourite with title sponsor Betfred to triumph at the Winter Gardens.
There will be a new name on the Phil Taylor Trophy in 2023, with former champions Peter Wright and Dimitri Van den Bergh suffering last 16 defeats on a dramatic Wednesday night in Blackpool.
Van den Bergh’s conqueror Jonny Clayton is the 4/1 second favourite for the title, just ahead of former UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall at 11/2.
Former Premier League finalist Joe Cullen has seen his odds slashed to 13/2 after dumping out Gerwyn Price in the last 16, while Masters champion Chris Dobey is 8/1 to claim his second televised title of 2023.
Australian number one Damon Heta is priced at 9/1 to claim his first TV ranking title, while Ryan Searle is a 10/1 shot, despite dumping out world number two Peter Wright to book his place in the quarter-finals.
Two-time semi-finalist Daryl Gurney is the 14/1 outsider, having already beaten former winners Rob Cross and Gary Anderson to reach his first televised ranking quarter-final since November 2021.
The Betfred World Matchplay quarter-finals begin on Thursday night, as Cullen takes on Gurney, before stablemates Aspinall and Dobey collide.
Searle and Clayton then kick off Friday’s last eight action, before Heta and tournament favourite Humphries battle it out for a place in Saturday’s semi-finals.
2023 Betfred World Matchplay - Outright Odds
3/1 Luke Humphries
4/1 Jonny Clayton
11/2 Nathan Aspinall
13/2 Joe Cullen
8/1 Chris Dobey
9/1 Damon Heta
10/1 Ryan Searle
14/1 Daryl Gurney
+18 Bet Responsibly, BeGambleAware.org. Prices correct at time of writing. Subject to fluctuation.
2023 Betfred World Matchplay
Thursday July 20 (2000 BST)
2x Quarter-Finals
Joe Cullen v Daryl Gurney
Chris Dobey v Nathan Aspinall
Friday July 21 (2000 BST)
2x Quarter-Finals
Ryan Searle v Jonny Clayton
Damon Heta v Luke Humphries
Best of 31 legs