PDC World Matchplay

The World Matchplay is a professional darts tournament. It is played in a legs format, and is run by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Jamie Lewis is the current champion after winning the 2019 edition. The World Matchplay has been played annually since 1993 in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The first ever winner was Dennis Priestley, who beat Jocky Wilson 16-3, and the current holder is Jamie Lewis. It is regarded as the second biggest PDC Tournament, status shown by the fact the whole tournament was sold out within 3 days of the tickets being on sale.

The top 24 players in the Order of Merit qualifies with the top 16 seeded. Players ranked 25-40 compete in the preliminary round the 8 winners will then advance to the 1st round.

Over the course of the tournament's 26-year existence, there have been 14 different winners: MVG (12), Phil Taylor (3), Rod Harrington (2), Eric Bristow (2), Gary Anderson (1), Dennis Priestley (1), Jamie Lewis (1), James Wade (1) and Peter Wright (1).

From 2018 onwards, the World Matchplay champion will receive the Ted Hankey Trophy, as was announced by the PDC following the retirement of the 10 time winner of the tournament. The World Matchplay has been broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports since the first tournament.

Format
From the beginning of the tournament in 1994, the World Matchplay has always been a legs only event. The length of matches for each round has changed several times over the years, as shown below.

1994

 * First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Quarter Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Semi Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Final: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)

1995–1996

 * First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Quarter Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Semi Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Final: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)

1997

 * Preliminary Round: First to 6 legs (no tiebreak; sudden death leg at 5–5)
 * First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Quarter Finals: First to 11 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Semi Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Final: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)

1998

 * First Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Second Round: First to 8 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Quarter Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Semi Finals: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Final: First to 18 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)

1999–2015

 * First Round: First to 10 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Second Round: First to 13 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Quarter Finals: First to 16 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Semi Finals: First to 17 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)
 * Final: First to 18 legs (match must be won by 2 clear legs)

2016–present

 * Preliminary round: First to 10 legs (best of 19 legs) (sudden death leg at 9–9; no break).
 * First Round: First to 11 legs (best of 21 legs) (match must be won by 2 clear legs; break after 7 legs are played)
 * Second Round: First to 13 legs (best of 25 legs) (match must be won by 2 clear legs; break after 5 legs are played)
 * Quarter Finals: First to 16 legs (best of 31 legs) (match must be won by 2 clear legs; break after 8 legs are played)
 * Semi Finals: First to 17 legs (best of 33 legs) (match must be won by 2 clear legs; break after 11 legs are played)
 * Final: First to 18 legs (best of 35 legs) (match must be won by 2 clear legs; break after 7 legs are played)