2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day One
2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day One
The sporting focus may have been on Euro 2024, and will return to that at 8pm tomorrow night, but the return of Darts at the Winter Gardens tonight is a very exciting prospect.
As defending champion, Nathan Aspinall will headline the opening night of the 2024 event, which also features world champion and world number one Luke Humphries.
2023 World Matchplay Champion Returns
The greatest moment in Nathan Aspinall’s darting career (to date) happened last year in Blackpool, and before heading off for a break from the game due to an elbow injury, The Asp will be looking to make it back to back campaign, he starts his defence Luke Woodhouse.
It will be a difficult start for Aspinall, who faces Luke Woodhouse who has had a very steady 2024. He will be hoping the Winter Gardens won’t faze him, as he makes his debut and will be looking to getting rid of the defending Champion on night one.
This will be first meeting between the pair on TV, with the previous meetings all being on in Pro Tour events with Aspinall winning all three.
World Champion Looking To Complete the Set
Following his World Championship and World Cup success in 2024, the World Number One turns his attention to 2024 Betfred World Matchplay and opens up his campaign against Ricardo Pietreczko.
Luke Humphries has had a stellar past 9 months with World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts adding to the above in his trophy cabinet and his form doesn’t seem to be dropping following his recent win with Michael Smith to bring it home for England.
Ricardo Pietreczko will be making his debut on the Matchplay stage, however he has got history with the English fans and with the fans feeling more patriotic than ever right now, this could be a difficult on and off the board for Picachu.
Elsewhere on night one
Gerwyn Price has had a difficult 2024 on the board, and missed the recent World Cup due to injury. The Iceman will need to find some form as he opens the show for this year’s Betfred World Matchplay, when he takes on Northern Irishman Daryl Gurney.
The quality on show in this years tournament is there for everyone to see, it’s proven by the fact the last game we are talking about is last year’s World Matchplay Finalist Jonny Clayton taking on five time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.
This clash of Tungsten heavyweights sees Clayton come in favourite following his recent success in a Pro Tour.
Each day we will be providing you recommend bets in partnership with Betfred.
2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day One
Saturday July 13 (1930 BST)
First Round x4
Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko
Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse
