The 2020 World Matchplay was to be the twenty‑seventh edition of the professional darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). The event is traditionally held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England, and follows a legs‑based format without a set play.
Planned schedule and venue
- Dates: 18–26 July 2020
- Venue: Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England
Tournament format
The World Matchplay employs a “first‑to‑X legs” format, with the number of required winning legs increasing as the competition progresses. Matches are played without a tie‑break set; a player must win by two clear legs, with a maximum limit imposed in later rounds. The tournament features a field of 32 players, comprising the top‑ranked players from the PDC Order of Merit and qualifiers from other PDC ranking events.
Prize fund
The announced total prize fund for the 2020 edition was £700,000, consistent with recent iterations of the event. The winner’s share was slated to be £150,000.
Cancellation
In March 2020, the PDC announced the postponement of the tournament due to the escalating COVID‑19 pandemic and associated public‑health restrictions in the United Kingdom. Subsequent assessments led to the formal cancellation of the 2020 World Matchplay, marking the first time the event had not taken place since its inception in 1994. No replacement tournament was scheduled for the same calendar slot in 2020, and the event resumed in 2021.
Historical context
The World Matchplay, first held in 1994, is one of the flagship events on the PDC calendar and is regarded as one of the most prestigious darts tournaments worldwide. The 2020 edition would have followed the 2019 tournament, which was won by Rob Cross. The cancellation contributed to a broader disruption of the PDC season, affecting multiple ranking events throughout 2020.