There’s something about the Winter Gardens in Blackpool that turns a darts match into proper theatre, and this year’s World Matchplay is delivering exactly that.
Gerwyn Price, the Welshman who never lets you forget he’s fully committed to every single dart, came out firing. The Ice Man, as he’s known, has been looking sharp in the early rounds, his trademark intensity making life uncomfortable for anyone stood across the oche from him. Price doesn’t do quiet performances. You get the full works.
James Wade, meanwhile, continues to remind the younger generation that composure is a weapon. The Machine has been around long enough to know that Blackpool crowds can unsettle even the most experienced players, but Wade has a stillness about him that’s almost unsettling in itself. At 39, he’s still very much in the conversation.
“You’ve got to respect every opponent here,” Wade has said previously of the Matchplay format. “The best-of-19 or best-of-21 legs means momentum shifts quickly. One bad visit and it can all change.”
Then there’s Gian van Veen. The young Dutchman, still only 21, has been one of the most talked-about talents on the PDC circuit this season, and Blackpool feels like the stage where he could genuinely announce himself to a wider audience. He plays without fear, which is either his greatest strength or the thing that’ll eventually catch him out. Probably both, depending on the night.
The World Matchplay has a format that strips away the safety net. No best-of-seven cushion in the early rounds; players need to hit the ground running. Averages in the upper 90s are almost expected from the top seeds, and anything below that leaves you vulnerable.
What makes this tournament particularly compelling is how the draw has shaped up. There are genuine banana skins everywhere, and the classic dart fans love to point out that Blackpool history is littered with shock exits.
Whether van Veen can go deep, whether Price has the consistency to challenge for the title, and whether Wade can remind everyone why he’s a former world champion. Those are the questions that make the next few days worth watching very closely.
