# 2017 World Matchplay

The 2017 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 24th annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 22 to 30 July 2017.
Michael van Gerwen was the two-times defending champion but lost to Phil Taylor 16–6 in the quarter-finals, with Taylor then going on to beat Peter Wright 18–8 in the final to claim his 16th World Matchplay Championship. It was Taylor's final appearance in this tournament and his last major tournament win.

## Prize money

The prize fund increased from £450,000 to £500,000, with the winner's earnings increasing from £100,000 to £115,000.
| 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 |

## Format

In previous stagings of the event all games had to be won by two clear legs with no sudden-death legs. However, in 2013 after consulting the host broadcaster Sky Sports, 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 July 10, 2017 were seeded for the tournament. The top 16 players on the ProTour Order of Merit not to have already qualified will be unseeded.
The following players qualified for the tournament:

## Draw

| First round (best of 19 legs) 22–24 July | First round (best of 19 legs) 22–24 July | First round (best of 19 legs) 22–24 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 25–26 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 25–26 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 25–26 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 27–28 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 27–28 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 27–28 July | | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 29 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 29 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 29 July | | Final (best of 35 legs) 30 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 30 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 30 July |
| 1 | Michael van Gerwen 98.55 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Bunting 94.54 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Bunting 94.54 | 4 | 1 | Michael van Gerwen 99.97 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 16 | Simon Whitlock 91.37 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Simon Whitlock 95.77 | 10 | 16 | Simon Whitlock 91.37 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kyle Anderson 96.64 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kyle Anderson 96.64 | 5 | | | | 1 | Michael van Gerwen 101.07 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Phil Taylor 101.85 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Phil Taylor 94.04 | 10 | | | | | | | 8 | Phil Taylor 101.85 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerwyn Price 88.68 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerwyn Price 88.68 | 5 | 8 | Phil Taylor 102.27 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld 98.92 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Raymond van Barneveld 92.42 | 10 | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld 98.92 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joe Cullen 96.95 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joe Cullen 96.95 | 8 | | | | | | | | 8 | Phil Taylor 102.74 | 17 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Adrian Lewis 93.50 | 9 | | | | |
| 5 | Dave Chisnall 95.16 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Adrian Lewis 93.50 | 9 | | | | |
| | Mervyn King 89.22 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mervyn King 89.22 | 7 | 5 | Dave Chisnall 96.90 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Alan Norris 98.61 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Kim Huybrechts 93.45 | 6 | | Alan Norris 98.61 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Norris 90.59 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Norris 90.59 | 10 | | | | | Alan Norris 91.31 | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Adrian Lewis 94.16 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Adrian Lewis 95.07 | 10 | | | | | | | 4 | Adrian Lewis 94.16 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Beaton 94.51 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Beaton 94.51 | 7 | 4 | Adrian Lewis 100.93 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Rob Cross 104.08 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Ian White 94.61 | 7 | | Rob Cross 104.08 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rob Cross 95.72 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rob Cross 95.72 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Phil Taylor 104.24 | 18 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Peter Wright 99.74 | 8 |
| 2 | Gary Anderson 101.95 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Peter Wright 99.74 | 8 |
| | Christian Kist 99.96 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Christian Kist 99.96 | 7 | 2 | Gary Anderson 105.17 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Daryl Gurney 103.26 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Benito van de Pas 89.53 | 9 | | Daryl Gurney 103.26 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Daryl Gurney 96.98 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Daryl Gurney 96.98 | 11 | | | | | Daryl Gurney 97.18 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Mensur Suljović 99.45 | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Mensur Suljović 94.42 | 10 | | | | | | | 7 | Mensur Suljović 99.45 | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| | John Henderson 86.35 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Henderson 86.35 | 4 | 7 | Mensur Suljović 95.57 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Justin Pipe 92.07 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jelle Klaasen 89.34 | 5 | | Justin Pipe 92.07 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Justin Pipe 90.94 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Justin Pipe 90.94 | 10 | | | | | | | | | Daryl Gurney 94.40 | 15 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Peter Wright 93.92 | 17 | | | | |
| 6 | James Wade 96.08 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Peter Wright 93.92 | 17 | | | | |
| | Darren Webster 96.48 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Darren Webster 96.48 | 13 | | Darren Webster 95.39 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Steve West 95.39 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Michael Smith 95.45 | 5 | | Steve West 95.39 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve West 99.94 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve West 99.94 | 10 | | | | | Darren Webster 95.55 | 12 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Peter Wright 100.19 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Peter Wright 89.26 | 10 | | | | | | | 3 | Peter Wright 100.19 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | James Wilson 90.51 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | James Wilson 90.51 | 8 | 3 | Peter Wright 104.18 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Cristo Reyes 93.64 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Robert Thornton 90.82 | 3 | | Cristo Reyes 93.64 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cristo Reyes 101.32 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Statistics

| Player | Eliminated | Played | Legs Won | Legs Lost | 100+ | 140+ | 180s | High checkout | 3-dart average | Checkout success |
| Phil Taylor | Winner | 5 | 72 | 31 | 135 | 105 | 31 | 151 | 101.03 | 48.37% |
| Peter Wright | Final | 5 | 62 | 57 | 170 | 121 | 21 | 147 | 97.46 | 41.36% |
| Daryl Gurney | Semi-finals | 4 | 53 | 48 | 114 | 83 | 37 | 146 | 97.96 | 43.18% |
| Adrian Lewis | Semi-finals | 4 | 46 | 45 | 101 | 77 | 24 | 144 | 95.92 | 42.69% |
| Michael van Gerwen | Quarter-finals | 3 | 27 | 23 | 54 | 45 | 14 | 160 | 99.86 | 34.49% |
| Mensur Suljović | Quarter-finals | 3 | 34 | 26 | 73 | 51 | 13 | 148 | 96.48 | 48.52% |
| Darren Webster | Quarter-finals | 3 | 36 | 34 | 100 | 60 | 14 | 133 | 95.81 | 36.95% |
| Alan Norris | Quarter-finals | 3 | 37 | 34 | 87 | 49 | 15 | 155 | 93.51 | 38.71% |
| Gary Anderson | Second round | 2 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 26 | 16 | 104 | 103.56 | 35.24% |
| Rob Cross | Second round | 2 | 18 | 18 | 46 | 25 | 10 | 125 | 99.90 | 44.70% |
| Steve West | Second round | 2 | 17 | 16 | 44 | 26 | 10 | 135 | 97.67 | 42.33% |
| Cristo Reyes | Second round | 2 | 14 | 14 | 38 | 15 | 8 | 116 | 97.48 | 49.41% |
| Dave Chisnall | Second round | 2 | 22 | 21 | 49 | 30 | 18 | 121 | 96.03 | 31.13% |
| Raymond van Barneveld | Second round | 2 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 31 | 10 | 124 | 95.67 | 27.38% |
| Simon Whitlock | Second round | 2 | 13 | 16 | 38 | 16 | 5 | 119 | 93.57 | 35.00% |
| Justin Pipe | Second round | 2 | 16 | 16 | 41 | 19 | 12 | 120 | 91.51 | 29.26% |
| Christian Kist | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 100 | 99.96 | 43.75% |
| Joe Cullen | First round | 1 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 150 | 96.95 | 44.44% |
| Kyle Anderson | First round | 1 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 105 | 96.64 | 55.56% |
| James Wade | First round | 1 | 11 | 13 | 42 | 18 | 2 | 121 | 96.08 | 55.00% |
| Michael Smith | First round | 1 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 80 | 95.45 | 45.45% |
| Ian White | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 17 | 2 | 74 | 94.61 | 30.43% |
| Stephen Bunting | First round | 1 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 102 | 94.54 | 22.22% |
| Steve Beaton | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 100 | 94.51 | 43.75% |
| Kim Huybrechts | First round | 1 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 72 | 93.45 | 28.57% |
| Robert Thornton | First round | 1 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 62 | 90.82 | 25.00% |
| James Wilson | First round | 1 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 127 | 90.51 | 33.33% |
| Benito van de Pas | First round | 1 | 9 | 11 | 28 | 16 | 1 | 170 | 89.53 | 27.27% |
| Jelle Klaasen | First round | 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 76 | 89.34 | 26.32% |
| Mervyn King | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 90 | 89.22 | 28.00% |
| Gerwyn Price | First round | 1 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 170 | 88.68 | 31.25% |
| John Henderson | First round | 1 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 97 | 86.35 | 30.77% |
Source: Match reports from the draw.