# 2023 World Matchplay

The 2023 World Matchplay (known as the 2023 Betfred World Matchplay), was the 30th annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 15 to 23 July 2023.
Michael van Gerwen was the defending champion, after winning his third World Matchplay title in 2022, defeating Gerwyn Price 18–14, but was eliminated in the first round, losing 10–7 to Brendan Dolan.
Nathan Aspinall won his first World Matchplay title and second Premier title overall, defeating Jonny Clayton 18–6 in the final.
The 2023 Women's World Matchplay also took place during the event, as Beau Greaves won her first televised championship by defeating Mikuru Suzuki 6–1 in the final.

## Prize money

The prize fund remained at £800,000, with £200,000 going to the winner.
| Position (no. of players) | Position (no. of players) | Prize money (Total: £800,000) |
| Winner | (1) | £200,000 |
| Runner-up | (1) | £100,000 |
| Semi-finalists | (2) | £50,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | (4) | £30,000 |
| Second round | (8) | £15,000 |
| First round | (16) | £10,000 |

## Format

All matches had to be won by two clear legs, with a match being extended if necessary for a maximum of six extra legs before a tie-break leg is required. For example, in a first to 10 legs first round match, if the score had reached 12–12 then the 25th leg would have been the decider.
| Round | First to (legs) |
| First | 10 |
| Second | 11 |
| Quarter-finals | 16 |
| Semi-finals | 17 |
| Final | 18 |

## Qualification

The top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit at the cut-off point on 11 July were seeded for the tournament. The top 16 players on the ProTour Order of Merit, not to have already qualified on the cut-off date were unseeded.
The following players qualified for the tournament:

## Schedule

| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
| 01 | 1 | Joe Cullen 100.67 | 10 – 7 | Mike De Decker 91.86 | 4 – 1 | 7 – 3 |
| 02 | 1 | Rob Cross 98.08 | 10 – 12 | Daryl Gurney 95.33 | 1 – 4 | 4 – 6 |
| 03 | 1 | Gerwyn Price 96.88 | 10 – 3 | Stephen Bunting 92.34 | 3 – 2 | 7 – 3 |
| 04 | 1 | Dave Chisnall 91.49 | 6 – 10 | Gary Anderson 94.07 | 3 – 2 | 3 – 7 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
| 05 | 1 | Danny Noppert 94.73 | 10 – 8 | Martin Schindler 88.57 | 3 – 2 | 7 – 3 |
| 06 | 1 | Dirk van Duijvenbode 95.52 | 12 – 10 | Kim Huybrechts 93.08 | 3 – 2 | 5 – 5 |
| 07 | 1 | Damon Heta 94.16 | 10 – 5 | Josh Rock 95.53 | 3 – 2 | 7 – 3 |
| 08 | 1 | James Wade 97.42 | 8 – 10 | Chris Dobey 96.22 | 1 – 4 | 4 – 6 |
| 09 | 1 | Nathan Aspinall 98.60 | 10 – 7 | Krzysztof Ratajski 96.78 | 3 – 2 | 6 – 4 |
| 10 | 1 | Luke Humphries 101.78 | 10 – 2 | José de Sousa 94.30 | 4 – 1 | 8 – 2 |
| 11 | 1 | Michael van Gerwen 98.98 | 7 – 10 | Brendan Dolan 95.50 | 1 – 4 | 5 – 5 |
| 12 | 1 | Michael Smith 88.96 | 10 – 2 | Steve Beaton 81.54 | 4 – 1 | 8 – 2 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
| 13 | 1 | Dimitri Van den Bergh 101.24 | 10 – 8 | Ross Smith 90.71 | 2 – 3 | 5 – 5 |
| 14 | 1 | Ryan Searle 105.19 | 10 – 4 | Raymond van Barneveld 89.59 | 3 – 2 | 7 – 2 |
| 15 | 1 | Peter Wright 96.41 | 10 – 4 | Andrew Gilding 87.91 | 3 – 2 | 7 – 2 |
| 16 | 1 | Jonny Clayton 87.91 | 10 – 8 | Gabriel Clemens 94.51 | 4 – 1 | 7 – 3 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
| 17 | 2 | Daryl Gurney 104.43 | 11 – 4 | Gary Anderson 102.47 | 5 – 0 | 8 – 2 |
| 18 | 2 | Danny Noppert 91.68 | 9 – 11 | Nathan Aspinall 98.07 | 2 – 3 | 4 – 6 |
| 19 | 2 | Gerwyn Price 100.31 | 11 – 13 | Joe Cullen 94.33 | 1 – 4 | 4 – 6 |
| 20 | 2 | Michael Smith 99.81 | 7 – 11 | Chris Dobey 98.24 | 3 – 2 | 5 – 5 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 |
| 21 | 2 | Brendan Dolan 89.08 | 1 – 11 | Damon Heta 95.68 | 0 – 5 | 1 – 9 |
| 22 | 2 | Jonny Clayton 101.90 | 11 – 6 | Dimitri Van den Bergh 93.49 | 3 – 2 | 6 – 4 |
| 23 | 2 | Peter Wright 91.90 | 8 – 11 | Ryan Searle 95.22 | 2 – 3 | 4 – 6 |
| 24 | 2 | Luke Humphries 95.17 | 14 – 12 | Dirk van Duijvenbode 93.04 | 2 – 3 | 5 – 5 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
| 25 | QF | Joe Cullen 97.11 | 16 – 11 | Daryl Gurney 92.18 | 5 – 0 | 7 – 3 | 9 – 6 | 12 – 8 |
| 26 | QF | Chris Dobey 96.79 | 12 – 16 | Nathan Aspinall 99.33 | 3 – 2 | 6 – 4 | 7 – 8 | 8 – 12 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
| 27 | QF | Ryan Searle 94.72 | 12 – 16 | Jonny Clayton 97.55 | 3 – 2 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 7 | 9 – 11 |
| 28 | QF | Damon Heta 93.22 | 13 – 16 | Luke Humphries 95.50 | 2 – 3 | 5 – 5 | 6 – 9 | 8 – 12 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
| 29 | SF | Nathan Aspinall 95.26 | 17 – 9 | Joe Cullen 91.22 | 3 – 2 | 6 – 4 | 10 – 5 | 13 – 7 |
| 30 | SF | Jonny Clayton 98.92 | 17 – 15 | Luke Humphries 95.86 | 2 – 3 | 4 – 6 | 7 – 8 | 9 – 11 |
| Match # | Round | Player 1 | Score | Player 2 | Break 1 | Break 2 | Break 3 | Break 4 |
| 31 | F | Nathan Aspinall 96.21 | 18 – 6 | Jonny Clayton 93.56 | 3 – 2 | 5 – 5 | 10 – 5 | 15 – 5 |

## Draw

| First round (best of 19 legs) 15–17 July | First round (best of 19 legs) 15–17 July | First round (best of 19 legs) 15–17 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 18–19 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 18–19 July | Second round (best of 21 legs) 18–19 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 20–21 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 20–21 July | Quarter-finals (best of 31 legs) 20–21 July | | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 22 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 22 July | Semi-finals (best of 33 legs) 22 July | | Final (best of 35 legs) 23 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 23 July | Final (best of 35 legs) 23 July |
| 1 | Michael Smith 88.96 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Beaton 81.54 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Beaton 81.54 | 2 | 1 | Michael Smith 99.81 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Chris Dobey 98.24 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | James Wade 97.42 | 8 | | Chris Dobey 98.24 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Dobey 96.22 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Dobey 96.22 | 10 | | | | | Chris Dobey 96.79 | 12 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 9 | Nathan Aspinall 99.33 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Danny Noppert 94.73 | 10 | | | | | | | 9 | Nathan Aspinall 99.33 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | Martin Schindler 88.57 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Martin Schindler 88.57 | 8 | 8 | Danny Noppert 91.68 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Nathan Aspinall 98.07 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Nathan Aspinall 98.60 | 10 | 9 | Nathan Aspinall 98.07 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Krzysztof Ratajski 96.78 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Krzysztof Ratajski 96.78 | 7 | | | | | | | | 9 | Nathan Aspinall 95.26 | 17 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Joe Cullen 91.22 | 9 | | | | |
| 4 | Gerwyn Price 96.88 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Joe Cullen 91.22 | 9 | | | | |
| | Stephen Bunting 92.34 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stephen Bunting 92.34 | 3 | 4 | Gerwyn Price 100.31 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 13 | Joe Cullen 94.33 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Joe Cullen 100.67 | 10 | 13 | Joe Cullen 94.33 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike De Decker 91.86 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike De Decker 91.86 | 7 | | | | 13 | Joe Cullen 97.11 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Daryl Gurney 92.18 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Rob Cross 98.08 | 10 | | | | | | | | Daryl Gurney 92.18 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | Daryl Gurney 95.33 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Daryl Gurney 95.33 | 12 | | Daryl Gurney 104.43 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Gary Anderson 102.47 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Dave Chisnall 91.49 | 6 | | Gary Anderson 102.47 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gary Anderson 94.07 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gary Anderson 94.07 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Nathan Aspinall 96.21 | 18 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Jonny Clayton 93.56 | 6 |
| 2 | Peter Wright 96.41 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Jonny Clayton 93.56 | 6 |
| | Andrew Gilding 87.91 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Andrew Gilding 87.91 | 4 | 2 | Peter Wright 91.90 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Ryan Searle 95.22 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Ryan Searle 105.19 | 10 | 15 | Ryan Searle 95.22 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Raymond van Barneveld 89.59 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Raymond van Barneveld 89.59 | 4 | | | | 15 | Ryan Searle 94.72 | 12 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Jonny Clayton 97.55 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Jonny Clayton 87.91 | 10 | | | | | | | 7 | Jonny Clayton 97.55 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gabriel Clemens 94.51 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gabriel Clemens 94.51 | 8 | 7 | Jonny Clayton 101.90 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Dimitri Van den Bergh 93.49 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Dimitri Van den Bergh 101.24 | 10 | 10 | Dimitri Van den Bergh 93.49 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ross Smith 90.71 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ross Smith 90.71 | 8 | | | | | | | | 7 | Jonny Clayton 98.92 | 17 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Luke Humphries 95.86 | 15 | | | | |
| 3 | Michael van Gerwen 98.98 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Luke Humphries 95.86 | 15 | | | | |
| | Brendan Dolan 95.50 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brendan Dolan 95.50 | 10 | | Brendan Dolan 89.08 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Damon Heta 95.68 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Damon Heta 94.16 | 10 | 14 | Damon Heta 95.68 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Josh Rock 95.53 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Josh Rock 95.53 | 5 | | | | 14 | Damon Heta 93.22 | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Luke Humphries 95.50 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Luke Humphries 101.78 | 10 | | | | | | | 6 | Luke Humphries 95.50 | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | José de Sousa 94.30 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | José de Sousa 94.30 | 2 | 6 | Luke Humphries 95.17 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Dirk van Duijvenbode 93.04 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Dirk van Duijvenbode 95.52 | 12 | 11 | Dirk van Duijvenbode 93.04 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kim Huybrechts 93.08 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Top averages

The table lists all players who achieved an average of at least 100 in a match. In the case one player has multiple records, this is indicated by the number in brackets.
| # | Player | Round | Average | Result |
| 1 | Ryan Searle | 1st Round | 105.19 | Won |
| 2 | Daryl Gurney | 2nd Round | 104.43 | Won |
| 3 | Gary Anderson | 2nd Round | 102.47 | Lost |
| 4 | Jonny Clayton | 2nd Round | 101.90 | Won |
| 5 | Luke Humphries | 1st Round | 101.50 | Won |
| 6 | Dimitri Van den Bergh | 1st Round | 101.24 | Won |
| 7 | Joe Cullen | 1st Round | 100.67 | Won |
| 8 | Gerwyn Price | 2nd Round | 100.31 | Lost |