The 2018 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 25th edition of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Matchplay tournament. It took place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England, from 21 July to 29 July 2018 and was broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Format and structure
- The tournament followed a single‑elimination “legs” format, with matches increasing in length as the event progressed.
- First‑round matches were best of 19 legs, second round best of 25, quarter‑finals best of 31, semi‑finals best of 33, and the final best of 35 legs.
- No group stage or set play was used.
Prize fund
- Total prize money: £500,000.
- Winner’s share: £115,000.
- Additional prize allocations covered the runner‑up, semi‑finalists, quarter‑finalists, and earlier round participants, as well as a high‑checkout prize.
Key results
- Champion: Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands) – defeated Phil Taylor (England) 18–8 in the final, securing his third consecutive World Matchplay title.
- Runner‑up: Phil Taylor – his final appearance in a major televised PDC final.
- Semi‑finalists: Michael Smith and Daryl Gurney.
- Notable high checkout: 160 by Daryl Gurney in the quarter‑finals.
Participation
- The field comprised 32 players: the top 16 from the PDC Order of Merit qualified automatically, and the remaining 16 spots were filled by the top players from the Pro Tour Order of Merit who were not already qualified.
Historical context
- The World Matchplay, inaugurated in 1994, is regarded as one of the PDC’s premier ranking events, traditionally held at the Winter Gardens each July.
- The 2018 edition marked the tournament’s 25th anniversary.
Legacy
- Michael van Gerwen’s victory reinforced his dominance in the sport during the late 2010s.
- Phil Taylor’s appearance in the final was his last in a televised major PDC event, preceding his retirement from professional darts later that year.
