2023 Betfred World Matchplay Day One Preview

The wait is nearly over! We are just hours away from the 2023 Betfred World Matchplay getting underway. This year will be the 30th edition of one of the best events on the sporting calendar.

The draw was made 11 days ago and we have fascinating ties, with the opening night including two former champions and last year’s runner-up.

In-Form Anderson closes opening night against Chisnall

One of the former Matchplay champions will take on Dave Chisnall in a mouth-watering first-round tie.

The Flying Scotsman has found himself in unfamiliar surroundings dropping down in the World rankings and outside of the seeding positions. However, the form of Anderson this year has made him the unseeded player to avoid as his form has significantly improved since the turn of the year.

The 12th seed Dave Chisnall got the draw that nobody wanted but Chizzy has had a very good first half of the year.

Dave Chisnall picked up the first Euro Tour of the year in February in Germany and followed it with his second in Holland at the end of April beating Luke Humphries in both finals.

Dave Chisnall is still looking for his first TV title, while Gary Anderson is looking to win his first individual TV title since 2018, in a year he picked up UK Open, Champions League, and World Matchplay titles.

Price Looking To Go One Better

Last year’s Betfred World Matchplay runner-up, Gerwyn Price is looking to pick up the Phil Taylor trophy a week on Sunday but firstly he must focus on a tricky first-round encounter when he takes on 2019 Matchplay Quarter Finalist Stephen Bunting.

The Iceman has had a good start to 2023 picking up two titles in the World Series, and a table-topper in the Premier League before losing out to MvG in the Final.

All that before he lifted the World Cup once more with his pal Jonny Clayton.

Price will only see the start of this year a success if he can finally get his hands on the trophy in Blackpool which he was so disappointed to miss out on last year.

The Bullet will be looking to recapture his form of 2019 when he reached the last eight in Blackpool, with the Winter Gardens not being a good home for Bunting in the recent years losing in the first round in 2021 and 2022.

Elsewhere on Night One

2022 Masters Champion Joe Cullen will take to the stage in the 2023 Betfred World Matchplay curtain-raiser when he faces debutant Mike De Decker.

Joe Cullen will be looking to add to his Masters title this week but in the form Mike De Decker will make it difficult for Rockstar.

In 2019, Daryl Gurney had his best run in Blackpool getting to the Semi-Finals, and it was Rob Cross who defeated the Northern Irishman before lifting the trophy. Fast forward four years and this game is a first round tie at Blackpool

Both player are looking to recapture the form from that year, in a repeat or revenge tie.

2023 Betfred World Matchplay Day One

Schedule of Play

Saturday, July 15 (1900 BST)

4x First Round

Joe Cullen v Mike De Decker

Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney

Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting

Dave Chisnall v Gary Anderson