THE field for the 2015 BetVictor World Matchplay has been confirmed following the completion of Players Championship 14 in Wigan on Sunday.
Now in its 22nd year, the PDC’s second oldest major tournament will take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 18-26, with 32 players competing for the prestigious title.
The top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit qualify by right to compete in Blackpool, and are seeded for the first round where they are drawn against the 16 ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers.
Michael van Gerwen will be the top seed heading into the tournament as he aims to go one better this year after losing out in the final to Phil Taylor in 2014.
Reigning champion Taylor will be seeded second as he bids to win an eighth successive Matchplay crown and continue his spectacular unbeaten run at the Winter Gardens, with World Champion Gary Anderson third seed.
Adrian Lewis completes the top four seeds, with Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Simon Whitlock and 2007 winner James Wade all inside the top eight.
Premier League star Kim Huybrechts tops the ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers, with the Dutch trio of Vincent van der Voort, Jelle Klaasen and debutant Benito van de Pas placing just behind the Belgian.
There will also be Winter Gardens debuts for Gerwyn Price, World Youth Champion Keegan Brown, Players Championship Ten winner Joe Murnan and Australia’s Kyle Anderson, whose impressive form over the weekend saw him narrowly overtake Mark Webster to seal the final qualifying place.
The draw for the BetVictor World Matchplay will be made on Monday July 6 at 10.30am (BST) live on Sky Sports News, with the schedule of play to follow later this week - stay logged on to www.pdc.tv for full details.
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
PDC Order of Merit Qualifiers
Seeded for First Round Draw
1. Michael van Gerwen
2. Phil Taylor
3. Gary Anderson
4. Adrian Lewis
5. Peter Wright
6. James Wade
7. Dave Chisnall
8. Simon Whitlock
9. Ian White
10. Robert Thornton
11. Brendan Dolan
12. Mervyn King
13. Michael Smith
14. Terry Jenkins
15. Raymond van Barneveld
16. Justin Pipe
ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers
1. Kim Huybrechts
2. Jelle Klaasen
3. Vincent van der Voort
4. Benito van de Pas
5. Stephen Bunting
6. Mensur Suljovic
7. Gerwyn Price
8. Steve Beaton
9. Jamie Caven
10. John Henderson
11. Keegan Brown
12. Andrew Gilding
13. Jamie Lewis
14. Joe Murnan
15. Kyle Anderson
16. Andy Hamilton
Now in its 22nd year, the PDC’s second oldest major tournament will take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 18-26, with 32 players competing for the prestigious title.
The top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit qualify by right to compete in Blackpool, and are seeded for the first round where they are drawn against the 16 ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers.
Michael van Gerwen will be the top seed heading into the tournament as he aims to go one better this year after losing out in the final to Phil Taylor in 2014.
Reigning champion Taylor will be seeded second as he bids to win an eighth successive Matchplay crown and continue his spectacular unbeaten run at the Winter Gardens, with World Champion Gary Anderson third seed.
Adrian Lewis completes the top four seeds, with Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Simon Whitlock and 2007 winner James Wade all inside the top eight.
Premier League star Kim Huybrechts tops the ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers, with the Dutch trio of Vincent van der Voort, Jelle Klaasen and debutant Benito van de Pas placing just behind the Belgian.
There will also be Winter Gardens debuts for Gerwyn Price, World Youth Champion Keegan Brown, Players Championship Ten winner Joe Murnan and Australia’s Kyle Anderson, whose impressive form over the weekend saw him narrowly overtake Mark Webster to seal the final qualifying place.
The draw for the BetVictor World Matchplay will be made on Monday July 6 at 10.30am (BST) live on Sky Sports News, with the schedule of play to follow later this week - stay logged on to www.pdc.tv for full details.
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
PDC Order of Merit Qualifiers
Seeded for First Round Draw
1. Michael van Gerwen
2. Phil Taylor
3. Gary Anderson
4. Adrian Lewis
5. Peter Wright
6. James Wade
7. Dave Chisnall
8. Simon Whitlock
9. Ian White
10. Robert Thornton
11. Brendan Dolan
12. Mervyn King
13. Michael Smith
14. Terry Jenkins
15. Raymond van Barneveld
16. Justin Pipe
ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers
1. Kim Huybrechts
2. Jelle Klaasen
3. Vincent van der Voort
4. Benito van de Pas
5. Stephen Bunting
6. Mensur Suljovic
7. Gerwyn Price
8. Steve Beaton
9. Jamie Caven
10. John Henderson
11. Keegan Brown
12. Andrew Gilding
13. Jamie Lewis
14. Joe Murnan
15. Kyle Anderson
16. Andy Hamilton