The world of professional darts is getting ready for its biggest summer festival. We are about to see one of the most star-studded fields in the history of the competition. Who will take the Phil Taylor trophy home this year? As the build-up to this showpiece event continues, have a look at our 2024 World Matchplay betting tips and odds breakdown.
Key Info About the Betfred World Matchplay 2024
The iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool will once again become a darting mecca as the Betfred World Matchplay will light up the stage from July 13th to 21st. The nine-day spectacle will feature world number one Luke Humphries and newly crowned Premier League champion Luke Littler, alongside many household names. The champion will take home the Phil Taylor trophy and a sweet £200,000 paycheck.
| ℹ️ Tournament: |
PDC 2024 Betfred World Matchplay |
| 🎯 Venue: |
Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom |
| 🗓️ Dates: |
Saturday, 13 July to Sunday, 21 July, 2024 |
Darts 2024 World Matchplay Odds & Favorites
The buzz is palpable as the 2024 edition of World Matchplay descends upon Blackpool, Lancashire. The atmosphere promises to be electric as darts heavyweights clash for the coveted trophy. The latest darts odds for betting suggest the battle will be nothing short of fierce. Planning to bet on 2024 Darts World Matchplay? Here are the top five candidates to become the new PDC World Matchplay champion:
Luke Humphries @ 4.00 (3/1)
Luke Humphries has the shortest darts 2024 World Matchplay odds following his successful World Cup campaign with England. He also won the PDC World Darts Championship earlier this year and currently tops the global rankings.
Luke Littler @ 5.00 (4/1)
Luke Littler will also be a player to watch out for this weekend. The 17-year-old has stunned the world with his meteoric rise in the darts scene. After conquering the Premier League in his first attempt, he will be looking forward to making another memorable debut. Darts betting sites in UK are labeling ‘The Nuke’ as the second favorite for World Matchplay glory.
Gerwyn Price @ 8.00 (7/1)
Gerwyn Price, who had to stay content with the runner-up medal in 2022, returns to the competition as a legitimate title contender. ‘The Iceman’ is yet to lift silverware this year but has made two semifinal appearances. Many darts tips for World Matchplay 2024, therefore, will feature the Welshman.
Michael van Gerwen @ 10.00 (9/1)
Michael van Gerwen knows what it takes to win this tournament, as he has hoisted the trophy no less than three times. He has been in a slump since his 2024 Cazoo Masters final defeat to Stephen Bunting, but rule him out at your own risk.
Rob Cross @ 15.00 (14/1)
Rob Cross burst onto the scene in style six years ago when he won the 2018 World Championship by beating the legendary Phil Taylor. Cross has won the US Darts Masters this year and had silver medal finishes at the Nordic Darts Masters and Poland Darts Masters. The Kent man will be confident of adding to his trophy haul in Blackpool this weekend.
Understanding the PDC World Matchplay
The prestigious PDC World Matchplay forms part of the coveted Triple Crown alongside the World Championship and the Premier League. Since its inception in 1994, the tournament has found its home at the iconic Empress Ballroom within Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
The World Matchplay features a thrilling “legs” format, where players aim to reach a specific number of legs before their opponent. This number increases as the tournament progresses, demanding greater endurance and mental fortitude in the later rounds.
The World Matchplay guarantees a star-studded showdown by implementing a meticulous seeding system. The top 16 players in the PDC Order of Merit, a ranking based on prize money won over the past two years, automatically secure their spots. The remaining 16 slots are filled by the next highest-ranked players on the PDC ProTour Order of Merit.
Past Winners of World Matchplay Darts
- 2019 – Rob Cross beat Michael Smith
- 2020 – Dimitri Van den Bergh beat Gary Anderson
- 2021 – Peter Wright beat Dimitri Van den Bergh
- 2022 – Michael van Gerwen beat Gerwyn Price
- 2023 – Nathan Aspinall beat Jonny Clayton
Phil Taylor has won the competition a record 16 times. To recognize his incredible record, the tournament trophy was named the ‘Phil Taylor trophy’ in 2018. Nathan Aspinall is the current holder of the title, who beat Jonny Clayton in the final last year.
Darts 2024 World Matchplay Predictions
Finding online bookies that don’t limit deposits can be a hassle, but digging up ideal betting tips for finalizing your betting strategy can be even more challenging. Our predictions for PDC 2024 World Matchplay can help you score some big returns. Let’s find out what they are:
Luke Littler to Win @ 5.00 (4/1)
Main Prediction
Agree with prediction?
(2 voted)
The story of Luke Littler is one for the ages. He entered the professional circuit as an unknown quantity, yet defied the odds by reaching the 2024 World Championship final.
This wasn’t just a flash in the pan, though. Littler went on to conquer the prestigious Premier League in his very first year, a feat that established him as a long-term resident in the upper echelons of professional darts. The world eagerly awaits the next chapter in his fairytale, and our predictions for PDC 2024 World Matchplay say it could happen in his very next tournament.
Littler has a stellar record this year. He has already won the Bahrain Darts Masters, Poland Dart Masters, and the Premier League. The young arrowsmith also came within breathing distance of the World Darts Championship and Dutch Darts Masters glory.
At the moment, Littler seems set to add another astonishing achievement by winning his maiden World Matchplay title.
Luke Littler to Beat Van Gerwen, Highest Checkout, and Most 180s @ 4.00 (3/1)
Risky Bet
Agree with prediction?
(2 voted)
Luke Littler’s World Matchplay journey kicks off with a baptism by fire! He’ll face none other than darts giant Michael van Gerwen in the first round, making it the most high-profile matchup of the opening stage. This isn’t new territory for Littler, however, as the two have clashed quite a few times already.
In fact, Littler has been incredibly dominant in their head-to-head meetings. The 17-year-old lost to the three-time World Matchplay champion in the Dutch Masters final but has managed to beat him in all of their last four encounters.
The Dutchman has an outstanding record in the competition, but his recent form has been far from encouraging. Van Gerwen lost three of his last five matches, while Littler has failed to win only one of his last five.
If you’re looking for some adventurous darts tips for World Matchplay 2024, consider backing Littler to beat van Gerwen, score the highest checkout and most 180s. You will get a substantial four-fold return if the Premier League champion can pull it off.
Rob Cross to Make the Final @ 8.00 (7/1)
Risky Bet
Agree with prediction?
(2 voted)
Rob Cross will be confident of making a deep run in the tournament after a moderately successful 2024 so far. He has made three final appearances already and managed to win one. For this reason, expecting him to take the fight all the way to the end in Blackpool will be far from impractical.
Cross has already crossed paths with Littler, who got our blessing as the potential champion, in a title fight this year. They locked horns for the Poland Darts Masters crown last month, and Littler got the better of the electrician-turned-darts player in an 8-3 affair.
While Cross is a phenomenal darts player in good form, he might not have enough in his arsenal to overpower Littler. That said, we are pretty confident that he will be able to cruise to the final.
Our Darts World Matchplay 2024 Betting Tips
Rob Cross has a relatively easier path to the final, compared to other contenders. Littler, meanwhile, seems to pack enough firepower to make his way to the final and claim another title.
