# 2018 World Matchplay

The 2018 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 25th annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 21–29 July 2018.
Phil Taylor was the defending champion, after defeating Peter Wright 18–8 in the 2017 final to claim his 16th World Matchplay title, but he retired following the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship final. For the first time, the winner of the tournament, (Gary Anderson) received the Phil Taylor Trophy, which was renamed in his honour in January 2018.
Gary Anderson hit a nine dart finish in the fourth leg of his quarter-final match against Joe Cullen, which was the seventh nine-dart finish in the World Matchplay and the first since 2014. Anderson overcame Cullen 19–17, facing two match darts against him at 15–14 to Cullen.
Anderson went on to win his first World Matchplay title, defeating Mensur Suljović, 21–19 after extra time in the longest final in the tournament's history.
The first round match between Kim Huybrechts and John Henderson made a piece of World Matchplay history, as it was the first time that a match was won by a single leg since the 1997 3rd place play-off. Huybrechts won the match 13–12 in a sudden-death leg, the first time the rule had been needed since it was introduced in 2013.
For the first time in World Matchplay history, no Englishmen progressed into the semi-finals, resulting in a first Matchplay final without an English player.

## Prize money

The prize fund remained at £500,000, with the winner's earnings being £115,000. Gary Anderson received £45,000 for hitting a nine-dart finish in his quarter-final against Joe Cullen.
| Position (no. of players) | Position (no. of players) | Prize money (Total: £500,000) |
| Winner | (1) | £115,000 |
| Runner-up | (1) | £55,000 |
| Semi-finalists | (2) | £30,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | (4) | £17,500 |
| Second round | (8) | £11,000 |
| First round | (16) | £7,000 |
| Nine-dart finish | (1) | £45,000 |

## Format

In previous stagings of the event all games had to be won by two clear legs with no sudden-death legs. However, after consulting the host broadcaster Sky Sports in 2013, the PDC decided that games will now only proceed for a maximum of six extra legs before a tie-break leg is required. For example, in a best of 19 legs first round match, if the score reaches 12–12 then the 25th leg will be the decider.

## Qualification

The top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit as of 2 July 2018 were seeded for the tournament. The top 16 players on the ProTour Order of Merit not to have already qualified were unseeded.
The following players qualified for the tournament:

## Draw

| First round (best of 19 legs) 21–23 July | First round (best of 19 legs) 21–23 July | First round (best of 19 legs) 21–23 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 24–25 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 24–25 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 24–25 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 26–27 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 26–27 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 26–27 July | | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 28 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 28 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 28 July | | Final (best of 35 legs) 29 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 29 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 29 July |
| 1 | Michael van Gerwen 97.88 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jeffrey de Zwaan 94.42 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jeffrey de Zwaan 94.42 | 10 | | Jeffrey de Zwaan 98.99 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Adrian Lewis 103.86 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Adrian Lewis 93.61 | 10 | 16 | Adrian Lewis 103.86 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | James Wilson 87.72 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | James Wilson 87.72 | 8 | | | | | Jeffrey de Zwaan 103.22 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Dave Chisnall 99.05 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Dave Chisnall 94.09 | 10 | | | | | | | 8 | Dave Chisnall 99.05 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| | Keegan Brown 76.62 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Keegan Brown 76.62 | 4 | 8 | Dave Chisnall 103.02 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Michael Smith 98.11 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Michael Smith 97.43 | 10 | 9 | Michael Smith 98.11 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jonny Clayton 84.06 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jonny Clayton 84.06 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Jeffrey de Zwaan 99.12 | 12 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Gary Anderson 106.06 | 17 | | | | |
| 5 | Daryl Gurney 89.19 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Gary Anderson 106.06 | 17 | | | | |
| | Steve West 91.79 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve West 91.79 | 10 | 5 | Daryl Gurney 87.69 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Joe Cullen 99.65 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Gerwyn Price 90.23 | 3 | | Joe Cullen 99.65 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joe Cullen 91.39 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joe Cullen 91.39 | 10 | | | | | Joe Cullen 95.26 | 17 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Gary Anderson 97.13 | 19 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Gary Anderson 96.66 | 10 | | | | | | | 4 | Gary Anderson 97.13 | 19 | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Bunting 86.21 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Bunting 86.21 | 7 | 4 | Gary Anderson 104.17 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 13 | Raymond van Barneveld 95.29 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Raymond van Barneveld 90.67 | 10 | 13 | Raymond van Barneveld 95.29 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kyle Anderson 90.69 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kyle Anderson 90.69 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Gary Anderson 101.12 | 21 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mensur Suljović 104.43 | 19 |
| 2 | Peter Wright 89.28 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mensur Suljović 104.43 | 19 |
| | Jelle Klaasen 84.36 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jelle Klaasen 84.36 | 5 | 2 | Peter Wright 105.60 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Kim Huybrechts 96.16 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Kim Huybrechts 94.17 | 13 | 15 | Kim Huybrechts 96.16 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Henderson 91.00 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Henderson 91.00 | 12 | | | | 2 | Peter Wright 101.35 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Simon Whitlock 96.14 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Simon Whitlock 88.20 | 10 | | | | | | | 7 | Simon Whitlock 96.14 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | Richard North 80.40 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Richard North 80.40 | 2 | 7 | Simon Whitlock 93.96 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | James Wade 90.88 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | James Wade 89.60 | 12 | 10 | James Wade 90.88 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jermaine Wattimena 87.63 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jermaine Wattimena 87.63 | 10 | | | | | | | | 2 | Peter Wright 88.68 | 13 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mensur Suljović 90.16 | 17 | | | | |
| 6 | Mensur Suljović 93.00 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Mensur Suljović 90.16 | 17 | | | | |
| | Steve Beaton 90.92 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Beaton 90.92 | 6 | 6 | Mensur Suljović 97.21 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Ian White 93.51 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Ian White 92.58 | 10 | 11 | Ian White 93.51 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Max Hopp 90.51 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Max Hopp 90.51 | 7 | | | | 6 | Mensur Suljović 98.03 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 14 | Darren Webster 95.70 | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Rob Cross 98.58 | 10 | | | | | | | 14 | Darren Webster 95.70 | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| | Mervyn King 91.85 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mervyn King 91.85 | 5 | 3 | Rob Cross 98.81 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Darren Webster 93.39 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Darren Webster 91.95 | 10 | 14 | Darren Webster 93.39 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Lennon 91.00 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Statistics

| Player | Eliminated | Played | Legs Won | Legs Lost | 100+ | 140+ | 180s | High checkout | 3-dart average | Checkout success |
| Gary Anderson | Winner | 5 | 78 | 64 | 169 | 96 | 52 | 152 | 100.88 | 36.45% |
| Mensur Suljović | Final | 5 | 73 | 58 | 173 | 108 | 35 | 151 | 97.16 | 40.56% |
| Jeffrey de Zwaan | Semi-finals | 4 | 49 | 40 | 106 | 68 | 23 | 140 | 99.12 | 42.86% |
| Peter Wright | Semi-finals | 4 | 50 | 32 | 108 | 73 | 11 | 170 | 88.68 | 37.14% |
| Dave Chisnall | Quarter-finals | 3 | 29 | 28 | 58 | 38 | 21 | 148 | 99.05 | 47.06% |
| Simon Whitlock | Quarter-finals | 3 | 26 | 25 | 58 | 26 | 15 | 132 | 96.14 | 38.46% |
| Darren Webster | Quarter-finals | 3 | 31 | 30 | 89 | 45 | 11 | 138 | 95.70 | 41.67% |
| Joe Cullen | Quarter-finals | 3 | 38 | 25 | 77 | 39 | 10 | 170 | 95.26 | 41.46% |
| Adrian Lewis | Second round | 2 | 19 | 19 | 44 | 16 | 6 | 121 | 103.86 | 40.91% |
| Rob Cross | Second round | 2 | 18 | 19 | 39 | 28 | 9 | 156 | 98.81 | 27.59% |
| Michael Smith | Second round | 2 | 22 | 20 | 35 | 24 | 14 | 110 | 98.11 | 40.00% |
| Kim Huybrechts | Second round | 2 | 16 | 23 | 40 | 27 | 12 | 156 | 96.16 | 33.33% |
| Raymond van Barneveld | Second round | 2 | 19 | 17 | 39 | 15 | 9 | 130 | 95.29 | 69.23% |
| Ian White | Second round | 2 | 18 | 18 | 44 | 22 | 12 | 154 | 93.51 | 50.00% |
| James Wade | Second round | 2 | 19 | 21 | 64 | 29 | 4 | 149 | 90.88 | 24.14% |
| Daryl Gurney | Second round | 2 | 15 | 21 | 52 | 16 | 4 | 100 | 87.69 | 25.00% |
| Michael van Gerwen | First round | 1 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 100 | 97.88 | 35.29% |
| Mervyn King | First round | 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 72 | 91.85 | 41.67% |
| Steve West | First round | 1 | 10 | 12 | 23 | 18 | 6 | 108 | 91.79 | 31.25% |
| John Henderson | First round | 1 | 12 | 13 | 30 | 13 | 3 | 114 | 91.00 | 52.17% |
| Steve Lennon | First round | 1 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 124 | 91.00 | 37.50% |
| Steve Beaton | First round | 1 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 11 | 1 | 120 | 90.92 | 46.15% |
| Kyle Anderson | First round | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 90 | 90.69 | 33.33% |
| Max Hopp | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 16 | 1 | 80 | 90.51 | 46.67% |
| Gerwyn Price | First round | 1 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 99 | 90.23 | 23.08% |
| James Wilson | First round | 1 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 86 | 87.72 | 44.44% |
| Jermaine Wattimena | First round | 1 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 113 | 87.63 | 29.41% |
| Stephen Bunting | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 110 | 86.21 | 46.67% |
| Jelle Klaasen | First round | 1 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 40 | 84.36 | 31.25% |
| Jonny Clayton | First round | 1 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 154 | 84.06 | 54.55% |
| Richard North | First round | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 80 | 80.40 | 50.00% |
| Keegan Brown | First round | 1 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 109 | 76.62 | 33.33% |
Source: Match reports from the draw.