2022 Betfred World Matchplay Final Preview

Gerwyn Price will take on Michael van Gerwen in Sunday’s Betfred World Matchplay final, as two of the sport’s premier players collide in a Blackpool blockbuster.

Price landed his fourth televised nine-darter of 2022 on a sensational night of semi-final action on Saturday, defeating UK Open champion Danny Noppert 17-11 to book his place in a first World Matchplay final.

Meanwhile, Van Gerwen produced a late surge to battle past 2020 champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, reeling off the final four legs to complete a hard-fought 17-14 success.

Price Looking To Add Matchplay Title To His Collection

Price has already broken new ground in Blackpool, becoming just the second Welshman to feature in a World Matchplay final, after Richie Burnett succumbed to Phil Taylor in the 2001 showpiece.

The 37-year-old had failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in seven previous appearances, but he’s produced a series of sublime displays at the Winter Gardens to regain the world number one spot.

The 2021 World Champion produced comeback wins over Martin Schindler and Dave Chisnall earlier this week, before averaging 104.64 to defeat Jose De Sousa 16-14 in a gripping quarter-final tie.

Price then landed the first nine-darter at this event since 2018 in his last four clash against Noppert, to set up a fascinating showdown against Van Gerwen, in the pair’s first final in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

MVG Looking For Title Number Three

Van Gerwen hasn’t hit the same heights as Price throughout the week, but the Dutchman is eyeing another slice of history in his fourth Winter Gardens final – his first since 2016.

The 33-year-old has beaten four TV title winners en route to Sunday’s showpiece, opening his campaign with a scrappy victory over two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis.

Van Gerwen then eased past Masters champion Joe Cullen in a repeat of last month’s Cazoo Premier League final, before defying an inspired fightback from former UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall to prevail 16-14 in a last-eight thriller.

The three-time World Champion averaged 101.86 against Aspinall – his only ton-plus average of the tournament so far – before denying Van den Bergh in a gruelling battle of the former World Matchplay winners.

Van Gerwen is featuring in only his second event since undergoing arm surgery last month, which took place a matter of hours after he clinched his sixth Premier League crown in Berlin.

The Dutchman enjoyed a remarkable 19-match unbeaten run against Price before the Welshman beat him at the 20th attempt at the 2019 Grand Slam of Darts, and they’ve since shared seven wins apiece.

2022 Betfred World Matchplay
Sunday July 24
Final (2100 BST)
Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price

Betfred Odds
Outright Winner
4/5 Gerwyn Price
1/1 Michael van Gerwen

Odds courtesy Betfred and correct at time of writing. Subject to fluctuation.