# 1997 World Matchplay

The 1997 Webster's World Matchplay was the fourth time the World Matchplay darts tournament had been held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool from 28 July to 2 August 1997.
Two Preliminary round ties were decided even before the players could even reach the oche, with the USA's Larry Butler and Holland's Raymond Barneveld being disqualified for failing to arrive at the venue in enough time to play their rivals, allowing Dean Allsop and Mick Manning an easy passage to the first round.
This was brewery Samuel Webster's third and final year as tournament sponsor. The tournament was won by Phil Taylor.

## Prize money

The prize fund was £46,000.
| Position (no. of players) | Position (no. of players) | Prize money (Total: £46,000) |
| Winner | (1) | £12,000 |
| Runner-Up | (1) | £6,000 |
| Third place | (1) | £3,250 |
| Fourth place | (1) | £2,750 |
| Quarter-finalists | (4) | £1,700 |
| Second round | (8) | £900 |
| First round | (16) | £500 |

## Seeds

There were eight seeds for the tournament.
* Phil Taylor
* Peter Evison
* Dennis Priestley
* Rod Harrington
* Keith Deller
* Alan Warriner
* Jamie Harvey
* Bob Anderson

## Results

Players in bold denote match winners.

### Preliminary round

| Player | Score | Player |
| John Ferrell | 6–1 | Paul Cook |
| Anthony Ridler | 6–1 | Gerome Vardaro |
| Darryl Fitton | 6–4 | Ritchie Gardner |
| Andy Jenkins | 6–3 | Avtar Gill |
| Drew O'Neill | 6–4 | John Part |
| Richie Burnett | 6–1 | Colin Monk |
| Mick Manning | bye | Raymond van Barneveld |
| Dean Allsop | bye | Larry Butler |

### Last 32

| First round (best of 15 legs) 28–29 July | First round (best of 15 legs) 28–29 July | First round (best of 15 legs) 28–29 July | Second round (best of 15 legs) 30 July | Second round (best of 15 legs) 30 July | Second round (best of 15 legs) 30 July | Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 31 July | Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 31 July | Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 31 July | | Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 1 August | Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 1 August | Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 1 August | | Final (best of 31 legs) 2 August | Final (best of 31 legs) 2 August | Final (best of 31 legs) 2 August |
| 1 | Phil Taylor 113.43 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gary Mawson 95.22 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gary Mawson 95.22 | 0 | 1 | Phil Taylor 92.01 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Q | Mick Manning 74.91 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Mick Manning 76.20 | 8 | Q | Mick Manning 74.91 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harry Robinson 78.21 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harry Robinson 78.21 | 3 | | | | 1 | Phil Taylor 97.29 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Bob Anderson 88.92 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Bob Anderson 85.62 | 8 | | | | | | | 8 | Bob Anderson 88.92 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Dean Allsop 78.15 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Dean Allsop 78.15 | 5 | 8 | Bob Anderson 88.23 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Steve Brown 85.50 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Brown 86.49 | 8 | | Steve Brown 85.50 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sean Downs 73.35 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sean Downs 73.35 | 0 | | | | | | | | 1 | Phil Taylor 99.21 | 13 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Rod Harrington 95.31 | 9 | | | | |
| 5 | Keith Deller 75.84 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Rod Harrington 95.31 | 9 | | | | |
| | Kevin Spiolek 81.30 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kevin Spiolek 81.30 | 8 | | Kevin Spiolek 79.50 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Drew O'Neill 68.85 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Drew O'Neill 80.40 | 8 | | Drew O'Neill 68.85 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | John Ferrell 77.88 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | John Ferrell 77.88 | 5 | | | | | Kevin Spiolek 83.88 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Rod Harrington 93.51 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Rod Harrington 101.22 | 8 | | | | | | | 4 | Rod Harrington 93.51 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | Cliff Lazarenko 89.37 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cliff Lazarenko 89.37 | 2 | 4 | Rod Harrington 86.07 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Dennis Smith 82.59 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dennis Smith 86.07 | 8 | | Dennis Smith 82.59 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eric Bristow 81.15 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eric Bristow 81.15 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Phil Taylor 106.32 | 16 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Alan Warriner 98.43 | 11 |
| 2 | Peter Evison 89.37 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Alan Warriner 98.43 | 11 |
| | Graeme Stoddart 73.17 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Graeme Stoddart 73.17 | 1 | 2 | Peter Evison | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Q | Anthony Ridler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Anthony Ridler | 8 | Q | Anthony Ridler | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerald Verrier | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerald Verrier | 5 | | | | 2 | Peter Evison 91.11 | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Q | Richie Burnett 96.00 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Jamie Harvey 87.57 | 6 | | | | | | | Q | Richie Burnett 96.00 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Lim 89.13 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Lim 89.13 | 8 | | Paul Lim 84.54 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Q | Richie Burnett 86.13 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Richie Burnett 93.57 | 8 | Q | Richie Burnett 86.13 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Mason 88.05 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Mason 88.05 | 5 | | | | | | | | Q | Richie Burnett 87.60 | 9 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Alan Warriner 91.05 | 13 | | | | |
| 6 | Alan Warriner 96.57 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Alan Warriner 91.05 | 13 | | | | |
| | Steve Raw 82.89 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Raw 82.89 | 3 | 6 | Alan Warriner 92.91 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Peter Manley 87.00 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter Manley 84.63 | 8 | | Peter Manley 87.00 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Darryl Fitton 83.55 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Darryl Fitton 83.55 | 6 | | | | 6 | Alan Warriner 101.55 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Dennis Priestley 97.23 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Dennis Priestley 85.77 | 8 | | | | | | | 3 | Dennis Priestley 97.23 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Andy Jenkins 84.51 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Andy Jenkins 84.51 | 6 | 3 | Dennis Priestley 94.77 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Shayne Burgess 90.06 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Shayne Burgess 93.36 | 15 | | Shayne Burgess 90.06 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Lowe 95.13 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Third place playoff (best of 21 legs) (4) Rod Harrington 11–10 Richie Burnett