2015 World Matchplay Explained

Tournament Name:2015 BetVictor World Matchplay
Dates:18–26 July 2015
Venue:Winter Gardens
Location:Blackpool, England
Organisation:Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
Format:Legs
Prize Fund:£450,000
Winners Share:£100,000
High Checkout:170 Brendan Dolan
Winner: Michael van Gerwen
Prev:2014

The 2015 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 22nd annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 18 to 26 July 2015.

Phil Taylor was the defending champion, having won the last seven editions of the event and he reached the semi-finals, where his 38-game unbeaten run came to the end against James Wade. Michael van Gerwen won his first World Matchplay title by defeating Wade 18–12 in the final.[1]

Prize money

The prize fund was increased to £450,000 after being £400,000 for the previous five editions of this event.[2]

Position (no. of players)Prize money
(Total: £450,000)
Winneralign=center (1)align=center £100,000
Runner-Upalign=center (1)align=center £50,000
Semi-finalistsalign=center (2)align=center £27,000
Quarter-finalistsalign=center (4)align=center £17,500
Second roundalign=center (8)align=center £10,000
First roundalign=center (16)align=center £6,000

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 on the PDC Order of Merit qualified as seeded players. The other 16 places went to the top 16 non-qualified players from the PDC ProTour Order of Merit who were unseeded players. The field was confirmed on 5 July following Players Championship 14.[3]

PDC Order of Merit Top 16

  1. Michael van Gerwen (winner)
  2. Phil Taylor (semi-finals)
  3. Gary Anderson (second round)
  4. Adrian Lewis (second round)
  5. Peter Wright (semi-finals)
  6. James Wade (runner-up)
  7. Dave Chisnall (quarter-finals)
  8. Simon Whitlock (second round)
  9. Ian White (quarter-finals)
  10. Robert Thornton (first round)
  11. Brendan Dolan (second round)
  12. Mervyn King (first round)
  13. Michael Smith (first round)
  14. Terry Jenkins (first round)
  15. Raymond van Barneveld (first round)
  16. Justin Pipe (first round)

PDC ProTour qualifiers

  1. Kim Huybrechts (first round)
  2. Jelle Klaasen (first round)
  3. Vincent van der Voort (first round)
  4. Benito van de Pas (first round)
  5. Stephen Bunting (first round)
  6. Mensur Suljović (quarter-finals)
  7. Gerwyn Price (quarter-finals)
  8. Steve Beaton (first round)
  9. Jamie Caven (first round)
  10. John Henderson (first round)
  11. Keegan Brown (second round)
  12. Andrew Gilding (second round)
  13. Jamie Lewis (second round)
  14. Joe Murnan (first round)
  15. Kyle Anderson (first round)
  16. Andy Hamilton (second round)

Draw

[4] [5] [6]

Statistics

PlayerEliminatedPlayedLegs WonLegs LostLWAT100+140+180sHigh checkout3-dart averageCheckout success
Michael van GerwenWinner5156102.8146.25%
James WadeFinal515097.3441.98%
Peter WrightSemi-finals4161101.1245.54%
Phil TaylorSemi-finals4161100.2739.85%
Ian WhiteQuarter-finals312799.0137.11%
Dave ChisnallQuarter-finals313697.8731.19%
Gerwyn PriceQuarter-finals312092.8841.10%
Mensur SuljovićQuarter-finals312891.5435.71%
Adrian LewisSecond round213699.1344.44%
Jamie LewisSecond round212895.6550%
Simon WhitlockSecond round27895.4441.30%
Gary AndersonSecond round211894.9433.93%
Andrew GildingSecond round212193.7642.50%
Keegan BrownSecond round211493.3243.75%
Andy HamiltonSecond round215892.6634.78%
Brendan DolanSecond round217089.7032.14%
Stephen BuntingFirst round16101186949101.6233.33%
Kyle AndersonFirst round17103265912499.0630.43%
Kim HuybrechtsFirst round15101306110195.8241.67%
Mervyn KingFirst round18103141269094.9942.11%
Joe MurnanFirst round17103211328693.7941.18%
Benito van de PasFirst round1410312836693.6240.00%
Robert ThorntonFirst round17102211448192.9041.18%
Vincent van der VoortFirst round1610325946892.7826.09%
Jamie CavenFirst round111132421136092.7037.93%
Jelle KlaasenFirst round14101203310891.4640.00%
Michael SmithFirst round141011311112191.1733.33%
Terry JenkinsFirst round191142816614090.2428.13%
Justin PipeFirst round171012610511690.0826.92%
Steve BeatonFirst round1410221914089.716.67%
Raymond van BarneveldFirst round17102221239689.0833.33%
John HendersonFirst round1210122122681.8633.33%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael van Gerwen wins World Matchplay title for the first time after defeating James Wade . . 26 July 2015.
  2. Web site: 2015 World Matchplay Prize Money . Darts Database . 8 July 2015 . 9 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150709061116/http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventPrizeFund.aspx?EventKey=6109 . dead .
  3. Web site: 2015 BetVictor World Matchplay Field . . 5 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706024312/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/ccanmf10cxty1w87m01ge1xy5/title/2015-betvictor-world-matchplay-field . 2015-07-06 . dead .
  4. Web site: 2015 BetVictor World Matchplay Draw . . 7 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707174918/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1cpqv8qqa1l4216b7xh1800bek/title/taylor-draws-henderson-for-betvictor-world-matchplay-opener . 7 July 2015 . dead . dmy-all .
  5. Web site: 2015 World Matchplay Fixtures . Darts Database . 19 July 2015.
  6. Web site: World Matchplay Darts fixtures and results . . 19 July 2015.