Littler heads £1m World Matchplay as Blackpool draw is set
Luke Littler will begin his title defence in Blackpool this month after the World Matchplay draw confirmed a 32-player field competing for a record £1m prize fund.
The draw for the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay has been confirmed, with Luke Littler facing Niko Springer in the first round at Blackpool's Winter Gardens. The tournament runs from July 18 to 26, broadcast live across all nine days on Sky Sports. Coverage of the opening day commences at 7pm on Sky Sports+.
Prize purses for the summer showpiece have been increased to £1m, with the champion taking home £225,000. The runner-up will receive £125,000, while first-round participants are guaranteed £12,500. The financial boost underscores the continued commercial growth of professional darts, rewarding a field comprising the world's top 16 seeds and 16 ProTour qualifiers.
Littler, who defeated James Wade 18-13 last year to become the fifth player to complete the sport's Triple Crown, is aiming to be the first back-to-back winner since Michael van Gerwen in 2015. Van Gerwen returns to face Andrew Gilding, while 2024 champion Luke Humphries takes on Cameron Menzies. Other notable matchups include Gian van Veen against Krzysztof Ratajski and Gary Anderson facing Ryan Joyce.
Women's event confirmed for final day
The fifth staging of the Women's World Matchplay will take place on the afternoon of July 26. Matches begin at the quarter-final stage over a best-of-seven legs format. Defending champion Lisa Ashton leads an eight-player bracket that includes two-time winner Beau Greaves and 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock.
The women's prize fund totals £40,000, with the winner earning £15,000. Greaves opens against Kirsi Viinikainen, while Ashton faces Rhian O'Sullivan. Sherrock meets Deta Hedman, and Gemma Hayter plays Vicky Pruim.
In the men's event, matches require a two-clear-leg margin of victory. Sudden death is triggered if the score remains tied after a fifth additional leg. The final is contested over a first-to-18 legs format, while the women's final is a best-of-11 legs match.
