World Matchplay Darts Betting
Get the latest World Matchplay betting odds and markets for the 2026 edition.
World Matchplay Darts Odds & Betting Markets
The World Matchplay in darts is one of the most important and prestigious tournaments of the year, second only to the World Championship, although the Darts Premier League has also gained significant traction in recent years. It's part of the prestigious Darts Triple Crown, alongside the World Championship and Premier League Darts, with reigning World Matchplay champion Luke Littler having completed his Career Triple Crown with his 2025 victory at the Winter Gardens. The 2026 edition carries a record £1 million prize fund, the biggest in World Matchplay history.
Here are the key details from the upcoming World Matchplay tournament, so that you don't miss a single dart that's thrown:
- Start Date: Saturday 18 July 2026
- End Date: Sunday 26 July 2026
- Location: Winter Gardens, Blackpool, United Kingdom
- Where to Watch: Sky Sports
- Defending Champion: Luke Littler
- Sponsor: Betfred
- Prize Pool: £1 million (£225,000 winner's share)
- Edition: 33rd staging
If you want to bet on the World Matchplay, BetVictor has got you covered. We have a comprehensive range of darts betting options for all games that occur throughout the World Matchplay 2026, alongside a variety of outright options for punters to pick from!
What is the World Matchplay?
The PDC World Matchplay stands as one of the darts' most prestigious events, ranking just behind the World Championships in importance. This major tournament brings together 32 top players who battle it out in a knockout format that darts fans eagerly await each year.
Players must show skill, nerve, and stamina to claim the Phil Taylor Trophy and the £225,000 winner's prize from a record £1 million total prize pool in 2026. Many consider the World Matchplay the summer highlight of the darting calendar, with matches that often produce dramatic moments and stunning upsets.
The World Matchplay darts tournament takes place each summer in Blackpool, England. This famous seaside resort hosts the event at the Winter Gardens, a venue that has become iconic in the darts world.
The World Matchplay format stands out with its leg-based scoring system rather than the sets used in other tournaments. Players must win by two clear legs in all rounds except the final, which adds drama when matches go to tie-breaks.
First-round matches are best of 19 legs, second round best of 21, quarter-finals best of 31, semi-finals best of 33, and the final extends to best of 35 legs.
World Matchplay Betting Markets
There are plenty of different World Matchplay betting options for punters to choose from, with some of the most popular ones being shown below. Of course, all of these markets, alongside many more, are available from within our extensive sportsbook!
Outright World Matchplay Winner
This type of darts betting market allows you to bet on the winner of the World Matchplay. Keep in mind that your bet will only be marked as a successful one if the chosen player wins the final and lifts the Phil Taylor Trophy on Sunday 26 July 2026.
Match Betting
The most popular betting market in darts revolves around who will win a particular match up. From the opening rounds to the final itself, picking a winner between two darts players is always an option.
Correct Score Markets
While the odds of the correct score markets are typically much higher than others, they come with a much lower probability of success. As the name suggests, it involves predicting the exact match of the score, such as 10 - 3 in a best of 19 match.
Total 180s
A number will be shown for this betting market and punters can predict whether more or fewer 180s will be scored in the match. For example, if the number sits at 10.5 and you bet on "Over", at least 11 180s would be required in order for the bet to be awarded at the corresponding odds.
Handicap Markets
With these types of World Matchplay betting markets, a handicap will be imposed on one player, or an advantage given to the other. For example, if you pick Michael van Gerwen to beat Chris Dobey -1.5, this must mean he must win by at least 2 legs.
Of course, all of the regular darts betting options remain available on the World Matchplay, with a huge variety of markets in our extensive sportsbook to choose from!
Favourites to Win the World Matchplay
The current favourite to win the World Matchplay 2026 is defending champion Luke "The Nuke" Littler, who completed his Career Triple Crown with a 2025 win that saw him recover from 5-0 down to beat James Wade 18-13 in the final. The reigning world champion and world No.1 enters 2026 chasing back-to-back Matchplay titles.
He is closely followed by 2024 World Matchplay champion Luke Humphries, three-time former winner Michael van Gerwen, and the rising Dutch star Gian van Veen, who reached the 2026 World Championship final.
Here's a look at the top 10 favourites to win the World Matchplay 2026, according to the latest darts betting odds:
- Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries
- Michael van Gerwen
- Gian van Veen
- Gerwyn Price
- Stephen Bunting
- Josh Rock
- Jonny Clayton
- Nathan Aspinall
- James Wade
Previous World Matchplay Winners
Luke Littler is the current defending champion of the Darts World Matchplay event, after beating James Wade 18-13 in a dramatic 2025 final in which he recovered from 5-0 down. The win saw him complete his Career Triple Crown at just 18 years old, joining Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries as only the fifth player ever to achieve the feat. Littler's tournament average of over 107 in the final was a Matchplay record.
The most successful player in the history of the World Matchplay is Phil Taylor, who won the event a total of 16 times over his legendary 31-year career - a record that the trophy is now named after. Below is a table showing all World Matchplay winners from the last decade:
Year | Winner | Runner-Up |
| 2025 | Luke Littler | James Wade |
2024 | Luke Humphries | Michael van Gerwen |
2023 | Nathan Aspinall | Jonny Clayton |
2022 | Michael van Gerwen | Gerwyn Price |
2021 | Peter Wright | Dimitri Van den Bergh |
2020 | Dimitri Van den Bergh | Gary Anderson |
2019 | Rob Cross | Michael Smith |
2018 | Gary Anderson | Mensur Suljovic |
2017 | Phil Taylor | Peter Wright |
2016 | Michael van Gerwen | Phil Taylor |
2015 | Michael van Gerwen | James Wade |
Bet on the World Matchplay Online with BetVictor
Here at BetVictor, we have a comprehensive range of World Matchplay betting markets for every match that is played in the event. From the opening rounds to the Grand Final on Sunday the 27th of July 2025, every game can be found in our online sportsbook. It's also worth mentioning that each match will also be featured on the in-play betting page as soon as it gets started, allowing you to wager on the action as it unfolds on the oche.
Be sure to check out the BetVictor offers page before placing a bet, too, as it features a huge selection of different bonuses. Many of these bonus offers can be used across all sports betting markets, including on darts odds, with a variety of options for both new and existing customers!
Frequently Asked Questions
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