The World Matchplay gets underway in different surroundings and a new venue on Saturday evening but the one thing that should not have changed is the standard the long format brings out of the players who take to the stage.
Usually we only have four matches in a session but with these different times and afternoon sessions more difficult, we have five to get stuck into on what should be a great night of darts with some of the best players in the game on show.
The Format
Much has changed in the world in recent times but the format of the World Matchplay hasn’t. The event begins with the first round over the best of 19 legs with the second round moving up to the best of 21 legs. The quarter finals take place over the best of 31 legs with the semi-finals the best of 33. The winner will then be determined on the second Sunday of the tournament in a best of 35 leg final. Each match in the tournament has to be won by two clear legs unless each player reach two beyond the scheduled winning number (12-12 in the first round, 13-13 in the second round etc). If that happens the next leg will be a deciding leg.
Simon Whitlock vs Ryan Joyce
The opening match of the tournament sees a man who has an illustrious history in this tournament in Simon Whitlock, taking on a player who is competing in it for the first time in Ryan Joyce, in what is the closest of the first round matches in terms of the odds.
Whitlock has plenty of stage experience but he is bang out of form. He almost dropped out of the top 16 during the Summer Series last weekend and had he done so he would not have made it into the field this week because his pro tour form has been dismal. The same can’t be said about Joyce it must be said. He should come here absolutely buzzing after winning his first PDC title last week and although he was fortunate to come from 7-3 down to beat Dave Chisnall 8-7, there was nothing lucky about his run to get there.
In all the sports we bet on across this site, I’m a big believer in the direction on the rankings. Whitlock is only going down and the younger man Joyce is going up. That often translates in battle too and I expect it to here. You could argue Joyce didn’t play great on the days he didn’t win the title last week but winning for the first time is such a huge thing I wouldn’t have expected him to. He’s worked so hard to get here that he won’t want to go quietly and having won two of the three meetings between these two this season Joyce at odds against looks good to me.
Krzysztof Ratajski vs Jermaine Wattimena
The second match of the tournament sees the Polish superstar Krzysztof Ratajski going up against Jermaine Wattimena in an all-European clash which could turn out to be the match of the night if both bring their A games to the party.
You would think Ratajski certainly will. He played very well at the Summer Series last week and that is no surprise because he is fast becoming one of the very best in the game on the floor. He should relish the conditions here and it would be a surprise if he isn’t on song here. We don’t quite know what to expect from Wattimena but recent history would suggest he isn’t quite the player he was perhaps this time last year. I think Wattimena is going to need his very best to live with Ratajski here. Anything else and the Pole will come out on top. I fancy Ratajski here and if he wins I see him doing it quite comfortably. I’ll take him to win by more than 2.5 legs.
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James Wade vs Keegan Brown
The third match of the night sees two men who are no strangers to facing each other going at it for the 12th time as James Wade takes on Keegan Brown for a place in the second round of the tournament.
If we apply Summer Series form to this match, and I think it is probably more relevant than most other factors given the long absence prior to it, then Wade will surely come out on top. He won one of those tournaments and only Peter Wright won more matches than he over the course of the week. Brown never went beyond the last 32 in any of the five events but that might have been to be expected given he spent much of lockdown working in his job with the NHS. I always think Brown is a better player on the big stage though and that might give him a chance here. This is a sit and watch rather than bet game for me.
Michael van Gerwen vs Brendan Dolan
The penultimate match of the evening sees Michael van Gerwen beginning his quest to win this title for the first time in four years when he takes on the obstinate challenge of Brendan Dolan, a man who has already beaten the Green Machine this term.
Van Gerwen isn’t going to lack for motivation here but whether he can have the same intensity as when he is feeding off a crowd remains to be seen. MVG won two of the five Summer Series tournaments so there appears to be no issues with his form but this is different enough to take a watching brief on his form just to make sure. Brendan Dolan has been one of the better players on the floor over the last 12 months or so and the environment might suit him here. I don’t think he will win this but I’m not confident with anything here so I’ll sit this one out.
Gary Anderson vs Justin Pipe
A big week for Gary Anderson kicks off in the final match on Saturday night when the former world champion and winner of this title two years ago goes up against a man he knows well in Justin Pipe who is from the same part of the country as the Flying Scotsman.
If Pipe was arriving here in good order then there is no doubt he would be one of the players more suited to having no crowds. Crowds have put him off for years so he would have that advantage but his elbow issue is no secret. He made a big thing of it during the PDC Home Tour and then pulled out of the last two Summer Series events because of it. Even now there is no guarantee that he turns up although he’ll only get his prize money if he plays and gives it a go so I expect him to do that but with little success.
Anderson didn’t have the best week at the Summer Series but he isn’t the biggest practicer so he should come on for the run so to speak. He would be expected to win this match anyway but given that there appears little chance that Pipe is going to be 100%, and probably isn’t the player he once was because of this arm/elbow issue anyway, this really should be a comfortable enough Anderson win.
Tips
Back R.Joyce to beat S.Whitlock for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with 888sport
Back him here:
WON – Back K.Ratajski (-2.5 legs) to beat J.Wattimena for a 3/10 stake at 1.95 with Coral
Back him here:
WON – Back G.Anderson (-3.5 legs) to beat J.Pipe for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Back him here:
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