| Tournament Name: | 1997 Webster's World Matchplay |
| Dates: | 28 July–2 August 1997 |
| Venue: | Winter Gardens |
| Location: | Blackpool |
| Organisation: | PDC |
| Format: | Legs |
| Prize Fund: | £46,000 |
| Winners Share: | £12,000 |
| Winner: | Phil Taylor |
| Prev: | 1996 |
| Next: | 1998 |
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.
The prize fund was £46,000.[1]
| Position (no. of players) | Prize money (Total: £46,000) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | align=center | (1) | align=center | £12,000 |
| Runner-Up | align=center | (1) | align=center | £6,000 |
| Third place | align=center | (1) | align=center | £3,250 |
| Fourth place | align=center | (1) | align=center | £2,750 |
| Quarter-finalists | align=center | (4) | align=center | £1,700 |
| Second round | align=center | (8) | align=center | £900 |
| First round | align=center | (16) | align=center | £500 |
There were eight seeds for the tournament.[1]
Players in bold denote match winners.[2] [3] [4]
| width=160px | Player | Score | width=160px | Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=right | John Ferrell | 6–1 | ||
| align=right | Anthony Ridler | 6–1 |  Gerome Vardaro | |
| align=right | Darryl Fitton | 6–4 | ||
| align=right | Andy Jenkins | 6–3 | ||
| align=right | Drew O'Neill | 6–4 | ||
| align=right | Richie Burnett | 6–1 | ||
| align=right | Mick Manning | bye | Raymond van Barneveld | |
| align=right | Dean Allsop | bye | ||