2017 World Matchplay Explained

Tournament Name:2017 BetVictor World Matchplay
Dates:22–30 July 2017
Venue:Winter Gardens
Location:Blackpool, England
Organisation:Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
Format:Legs
Prize Fund:£500,000
Winners Share:£115,000
High Checkout:170 Benito van de Pas
Gerwyn Price
Winner: Phil Taylor
Prev:2016
Next:2018

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.[1]

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)Prize money
(Total: £500,000)
Winneralign=center (1)align=center £115,000
Runner-upalign=center (1)align=center £55,000
Semi-finalistsalign=center (2)align=center £30,000
Quarter-finalistsalign=center (4)align=center £17,500
Second roundalign=center (8)align=center £11,000
First roundalign=center (16)align=center £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.[2]

The following players qualified for the tournament:[3]

PDC Order of Merit Top 16

  1. Michael van Gerwen (quarter-finals)
  2. Gary Anderson (second round)
  3. Peter Wright (runner-up)
  4. Adrian Lewis (semi-finals)
  5. Dave Chisnall (second round)
  6. James Wade (first round)
  7. Mensur Suljović (quarter-finals)
  8. Phil Taylor (winner)
  9. Raymond van Barneveld (second round)
  10. Jelle Klaasen (first round)
  11. Michael Smith (first round)
  12. Kim Huybrechts (first round)
  13. Ian White (first round)
  14. Robert Thornton (first round)
  15. Benito van de Pas (first round)
  16. Simon Whitlock (second round)

PDC ProTour qualifiers

  1. Daryl Gurney (semi-finals)
  2. Alan Norris (quarter-finals)
  3. Joe Cullen (first round)
  4. Rob Cross (second round)
  5. Mervyn King (first round)
  6. Gerwyn Price (first round)
  7. Cristo Reyes (second round)
  8. Stephen Bunting (first round)
  9. Darren Webster (quarter-finals)
  10. Steve Beaton (first round)
  11. James Wilson (first round)
  12. Steve West (second round)
  13. Kyle Anderson (first round)
  14. John Henderson (first round)
  15. Christian Kist (first round)
  16. Justin Pipe (second round)

Statistics

PlayerEliminatedPlayedLegs WonLegs LostLWAT100+140+180sHigh checkout3-dart averageCheckout success
Phil TaylorWinner5151101.0348.37%
Peter WrightFinal514797.4641.36%
Daryl GurneySemi-finals414697.9643.18%
Adrian LewisSemi-finals414495.9242.69%
Michael van GerwenQuarter-finals316099.8634.49%
Mensur SuljovićQuarter-finals314896.4848.52%
Darren WebsterQuarter-finals313395.8136.95%
Alan NorrisQuarter-finals315593.5138.71%
Gary AndersonSecond round2104103.5635.24%
Rob CrossSecond round212599.9044.70%
Steve WestSecond round213597.6742.33%
Cristo ReyesSecond round211697.4849.41%
Dave ChisnallSecond round212196.0331.13%
Raymond van BarneveldSecond round212495.6727.38%
Simon WhitlockSecond round211993.5735.00%
Justin PipeSecond round212091.5129.26%
Christian KistFirst round17101612910099.9643.75%
Joe CullenFirst round18102010515096.9544.44%
Kyle AndersonFirst round1510193610596.6455.56%
James WadeFirst round111134218212196.0855.00%
Michael SmithFirst round151018648095.4545.45%
Ian WhiteFirst round1710221727494.6130.43%
Stephen BuntingFirst round14101611310294.5422.22%
Steve BeatonFirst round17102212110094.5143.75%
Kim HuybrechtsFirst round161021857293.4528.57%
Robert ThorntonFirst round131015816290.8225.00%
James WilsonFirst round18102210412790.5133.33%
Benito van de PasFirst round19112816117089.5327.27%
Jelle KlaasenFirst round151016837689.3426.32%
Mervyn KingFirst round1710131339089.2228.00%
Gerwyn PriceFirst round1710207117088.6831.25%
John HendersonFirst round141018919786.3530.77%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Matchplay: Phil Taylor beats Peter Wright to win 16th title. 31 July 2017. BBC Sport. 31 July 2017.
  2. Web site: PDC Order of Merit Rules. PDC. 19 June 2017.
  3. Web site: 2017 BetVictor World Matchplay Field. PDC. 22 July 2017.