THE schedule of play has been confirmed for the 2015 BetVictor World Matchplay, with Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright all in action on the opening night.
The BetVictor World Matchplay – now in its 22nd year – will be held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 18-26 and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock and Lakeside champion Jelle Klaasen will kick off the tournament before Wright takes on Premier League rival Kim Huybrechts in the second game of the evening.
World number one van Gerwen will then face fellow Dutchman Benito van de Pas before 2013 runner-up Lewis takes on another Blackpool debutant Joe Murnan in the final game of the opening night.
The first round continues on Sunday afternoon, with Mervyn King taking on Andrew Gilding, Ian White facing Stephen Bunting and youngsters Jamie Lewis and Michael Smith meeting Justin Pipe and Gerwyn Price respectively.
World Champion Gary Anderson and 2007 Matchplay winner James Wade will open their tournaments on Sunday evening against Steve Beaton and Kyle Anderson respectively, with Brendan Dolan taking on Vincent van der Voort and Terry Jenkins playing Mensur Suljovic in the same session.
Reigning World Matchplay champion Phil Taylor will play John Henderson on the final day of first round action on Monday as he aims to win a sensational eighth consecutive title at the Winter Gardens.
Raymond van Barneveld will also be in action on Monday evening as he takes on Andy Hamilton, with fellow Premier League star Dave Chisnall playing Jamie Caven and World Youth Champion Keegan Brown matching up with Robert Thornton.
Second round matches will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the quarter-finals split across Thursday and Friday and semi-finals and final taking place on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
BetVictor Head of Communications Charlie McCann said: “In the immediate aftermath of yesterday’s draw we cut Michael van Gerwen to 7/4 from 2/1, but we have now pushed the world number one back out to 2/1 and cut holder Phil Taylor from 7/2 to 10/3. Mighty Mike has never won in Blackpool and until he does we are keen to take him on.
“It is rare for a World Champion to be priced at 6/1 but Gary Anderson might have to beat both The Power and MvG if he is to add the BetVictor World Matchplay title to his world crown. It promises to be another magnificent tournament and those opening night first round ties should ensure we get off to a cracking start!”
* See www.betvictor.com for all the latest prices from our title sponsors.
Tickets for the BetVictor World Matchplay are still available for some sessions and can be purchased in person at the Winter Gardens Box Office, by calling 0844 856 1111 or via www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk.
2015 BetVictor World Matchplay
Saturday July 18
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
First Round
Simon Whitlock v Jelle Klaasen
Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen v Benito van de Pas
Adrian Lewis v Joe Murnan
Sunday July 19
Afternoon Session (1pm – 5pm)
First Round
Mervyn King v Andrew Gilding
Ian White v Stephen Bunting
Justin Pipe v Jamie Lewis
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
First Round
Brendan Dolan v Vincent van der Voort
Terry Jenkins v Mensur Suljovic
Gary Anderson v Steve Beaton
James Wade v Kyle Anderson
Monday July 20
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
First Round
Robert Thornton v Keegan Brown
Dave Chisnall v Jamie Caven
Phil Taylor v John Henderson
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
Tuesday July 21
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Second Round
Wright / Huybrechts v King / Gilding
Whitlock / Klaasen v White / Bunting
Van Gerwen / Van De Pas v Pipe / J Lewis
A Lewis / Murnan v Smith / Price
Wednesday July 22
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Second Round
Chisnall / Caven v Thornton / Brown
Wade / K Anderson v Dolan / Van Der Voort
Taylor / Henderson v Van Barneveld / Hamilton
G Anderson / Beaton v Jenkins / Suljovic
Thursday July 23
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Friday July 24
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Saturday July 25
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Semi-Finals x2
Sunday July 26
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Second Round - Best of 25 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs
Final - Best of 35 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death. There will be no re-throw for the bull in this instance.
For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12, then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg.
The BetVictor World Matchplay – now in its 22nd year – will be held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 18-26 and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock and Lakeside champion Jelle Klaasen will kick off the tournament before Wright takes on Premier League rival Kim Huybrechts in the second game of the evening.
World number one van Gerwen will then face fellow Dutchman Benito van de Pas before 2013 runner-up Lewis takes on another Blackpool debutant Joe Murnan in the final game of the opening night.
The first round continues on Sunday afternoon, with Mervyn King taking on Andrew Gilding, Ian White facing Stephen Bunting and youngsters Jamie Lewis and Michael Smith meeting Justin Pipe and Gerwyn Price respectively.
World Champion Gary Anderson and 2007 Matchplay winner James Wade will open their tournaments on Sunday evening against Steve Beaton and Kyle Anderson respectively, with Brendan Dolan taking on Vincent van der Voort and Terry Jenkins playing Mensur Suljovic in the same session.
Reigning World Matchplay champion Phil Taylor will play John Henderson on the final day of first round action on Monday as he aims to win a sensational eighth consecutive title at the Winter Gardens.
Raymond van Barneveld will also be in action on Monday evening as he takes on Andy Hamilton, with fellow Premier League star Dave Chisnall playing Jamie Caven and World Youth Champion Keegan Brown matching up with Robert Thornton.
Second round matches will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the quarter-finals split across Thursday and Friday and semi-finals and final taking place on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
BetVictor Head of Communications Charlie McCann said: “In the immediate aftermath of yesterday’s draw we cut Michael van Gerwen to 7/4 from 2/1, but we have now pushed the world number one back out to 2/1 and cut holder Phil Taylor from 7/2 to 10/3. Mighty Mike has never won in Blackpool and until he does we are keen to take him on.
“It is rare for a World Champion to be priced at 6/1 but Gary Anderson might have to beat both The Power and MvG if he is to add the BetVictor World Matchplay title to his world crown. It promises to be another magnificent tournament and those opening night first round ties should ensure we get off to a cracking start!”
* See www.betvictor.com for all the latest prices from our title sponsors.
Tickets for the BetVictor World Matchplay are still available for some sessions and can be purchased in person at the Winter Gardens Box Office, by calling 0844 856 1111 or via www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk.
2015 BetVictor World Matchplay
Saturday July 18
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
First Round
Simon Whitlock v Jelle Klaasen
Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen v Benito van de Pas
Adrian Lewis v Joe Murnan
Sunday July 19
Afternoon Session (1pm – 5pm)
First Round
Mervyn King v Andrew Gilding
Ian White v Stephen Bunting
Justin Pipe v Jamie Lewis
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
First Round
Brendan Dolan v Vincent van der Voort
Terry Jenkins v Mensur Suljovic
Gary Anderson v Steve Beaton
James Wade v Kyle Anderson
Monday July 20
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
First Round
Robert Thornton v Keegan Brown
Dave Chisnall v Jamie Caven
Phil Taylor v John Henderson
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
Tuesday July 21
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Second Round
Wright / Huybrechts v King / Gilding
Whitlock / Klaasen v White / Bunting
Van Gerwen / Van De Pas v Pipe / J Lewis
A Lewis / Murnan v Smith / Price
Wednesday July 22
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Second Round
Chisnall / Caven v Thornton / Brown
Wade / K Anderson v Dolan / Van Der Voort
Taylor / Henderson v Van Barneveld / Hamilton
G Anderson / Beaton v Jenkins / Suljovic
Thursday July 23
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Friday July 24
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Saturday July 25
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Semi-Finals x2
Sunday July 26
Evening Session (7pm – 11pm)
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Second Round - Best of 25 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs
Final - Best of 35 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death. There will be no re-throw for the bull in this instance.
For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12, then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg.