2025 World Matchplay Line-Up Confirmed as Humphries Targets Historic Title Defence
2025 World Matchplay Line-Up Confirmed as Humphries Targets Historic Title Defence
The field for the 2025 Betfred World Matchplay is now set, with reigning champion Luke Humphries leading a world-class 32-player line-up heading to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens from July 19-27.
Following Bradley Brooks’ breakthrough win at Players Championship 21 on Wednesday, the final qualification places were locked in for the prestigious £800,000 event. The tournament will once again see the top 16 players from the PDC Main Order of Merit seeded, joined by 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit.
Humphries, who lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy in 2024, returns as the number one seed as he bids to become just the fourth player in history to retain the World Matchplay title, joining Rod Harrington, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen in the elite club.
Fresh off his World Championship triumph, Luke Littler enters as the number two seed, while three-time Blackpool winner Van Gerwen is seeded third. The in-form Stephen Bunting (4), Jonny Clayton (5), and Chris Dobey (6) round out the top six seeds, all chasing major silverware this summer.
Former Champions and Legends Return
Among the seeds are several former World Matchplay champions and major winners:
- Michael van Gerwen (47) Three times World and Matchplay champion
- Nathan Aspinall (8), the 2023 champion
- James Wade (9), a title-winner in 2007
- Rob Cross (10), the 2019 champion
- Gerwyn Price (11), 2022 finalist
- Gary Anderson (13) and Peter Wright (15), both former champions returning to the seeded bracket
The seeding list also includes Damon Heta, Dave Chisnall, Ross Smith, and Danny Noppert, all looking to make their mark on the iconic Empress Ballroom stage.
ProTour Qualifiers: Fresh Faces and Familiar Names
The ProTour side of the draw features several rising stars, big names, and returning heroes:
- Martin Schindler, Germany’s top-ranked player
- World Cup winners Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney
- World Youth Champion Gian van Veen
- Debutants Cameron Menzies and Wessel Nijman
- European Tour regulars Dirk van Duijvenbode, Mike De Decker, and Jermaine Wattimena
Former World Matchplay finalist Raymond van Barneveld also returns, having secured one of the final qualification spots. The Dutch icon finished runner-up in Blackpool back in 2010 and remains a fan favourite.
Joe Cullen, a 2023 semi-finalist, also booked his return, alongside recent ProTour winners Ricardo Pietreczko, Luke Woodhouse, Ryan Searle, Andrew Gilding, and Ryan Joyce, who clinched the final qualification berth by fending off Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski in a tense finish on Wednesday.
Notable Absentees
Despite deep runs and strong form in recent months, several major names missed the cut:
- Michael Smith, the 2022/23 World Champion, will miss the World Matchplay for the first time in 12 years
- Krzysztof Ratajski, a semi-finalist in 2021, came up just short
- Dimitri Van den Bergh, 2020 champion, sees his five-year appearance streak end
- Ritchie Edhouse, the reigning European Champion, also failed to qualify
Draw Announcement & Tournament Format
The first-round draw – matching each of the top 16 seeds with a ProTour qualifier – will take place on Thursday, July 10, and will be revealed across the PDC’s and Betfred’s social media platforms.
The tournament, renowned as one of the most prestigious in darts, will play out over nine days, culminating in the final on July 27, with all matches played in the atmospheric Empress Ballroom.
2025 World Matchplay Line-Up Confirmed as Humphries Targets Historic Title Defence
2025 Betfred World Matchplay – Qualified Players
Seeded Players (Top 16 – Main PDC Order of Merit)
- Luke Humphries
- Luke Littler
- Michael van Gerwen
- Stephen Bunting
- Jonny Clayton
- Chris Dobey
- Damon Heta
- Nathan Aspinall
- James Wade
- Rob Cross
- Gerwyn Price
- Dave Chisnall
- Gary Anderson
- Ross Smith
- Peter Wright
- Danny Noppert
ProTour Qualifiers
- Martin Schindler
- Josh Rock
- Cameron Menzies
- Gian van Veen
- Wessel Nijman
- Ryan Searle
- Mike De Decker
- Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Jermaine Wattimena
- Andrew Gilding
- Daryl Gurney
- Joe Cullen
- Ricardo Pietreczko
- Luke Woodhouse
- Raymond van Barneveld
- Ryan Joyce
