PDC World Matchplay Best Bets: 9/2 outright winner for Blackpool test

Source: Alamy Stock Photo

The Open Golf isn’t the only sporting show on the Lancashire coast this weekend as the stars of the darts world are also gathering beside the seaside for the 2026 PDC World Matchplay.

Luke Littler, the world No.1, world champion and last year’s Matchplay winner, is the 10/11 favourite with Betway to light up the Winter Gardens, the tournament’s spiritual home in Blackpool.

But this is an elite 32-man field with many other stars hoping they can get their hands on the Phil Taylor Trophy, named in honour of the man who won 16 runnings of this illustrious tournament.

Selections

• Luke Humphries to win @ 9/2

• Andrew Gilding to win Second Quarter @ 18/1

• Jermaine Wattimena to win Fourth Quarter @ 10/1

Cool Hand to freeze out Winter Gardens field

It is 4/1 with Betway that Luke Littler and Luke Humphries reach the World Matchplay final – and it is easy to see why.

The past two winners at Blackpool have met in seven finals across the globe in the last 16 months – plus seven more Premier League mini-finals – to confirm they are clear of the pack right now.

That doesn’t mean they won’t have to work as hard as ever to set up a mouthwatering showpiece on Sunday, July 26. And you could argue Littler is short enough in the outright market even though it’s a local event for him, he’s playing well and he is the reigning champ.

But Humphries is also in supreme form with victory at the US Darts Masters – beating Littler 8-7 in the final – to go alongside a couple of Pro Tour successes and an absolute sense that his numbers are back to their best.

There is no easy draw at Blackpool – he opens up against Cameron Menzies, whose debut 12 months ago saw him drubbed 10-2 by Danny Noppert in round one – but Humphries is majestic when he clicks; almost unbeatable. And it’s clicking for him now and that makes the 2024 champion ready to reclaim the trophy.

Goldfinger can shine on the big stage

Below Littler and Humphries there is no one outstanding next best, with a whole host of stars playing well in patches but not consistently.

And that could lend itself to one or two less likely aces to deliver runs, among them rock-steady Andrew Gilding. Goldfinger is a major winner – he surprised many by landing the UK Open in 2023 – and is a Players Championship winner this year.

He has also reached the last eight in Blackpool in each of the last two summers – he was pipped 16-14 by Littler 12 months ago – and has a consistency level that others would love to possess. Gilding opens up against Michael van Gerwen and that’s tough even though MVG is miles from his best.

The Englishman is priced accordingly and 18/1 to win his quarter – to win three matches – is a decent price.

Machine Gun can fire his way into the semis

Another outsider to land quarter glory could be Jermaine Wattimena in the bottom section.

The gifted but frustrating Dutchman broke his Blackpool hoodoo last year – winning a match at the Winter Gardens at the fifth time of asking – and can go even further this season.

Fresh off a run to the final of the European Open he knows he has the game. He’ll have to play well to beat Blackpool legend James Wade in his opener but he very definitely can and 10/1 he wins his quarter is a big price.