Everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 Women's World Matchplay as Lisa Ashton returns to Blackpool's fabled Winter Gardens bidding to make a successful defence of her title.
Dates
The 2026 Women's World Matchplay takes place on Sunday 26th July, 2026.
Prize Money
Winner (1): | £15,000 |
Runner-Up (1): | £8,000 |
Semi-Final Losers (2): | £4,500 |
Quarter-Final Losers (4): | £2,000 |
There has been a significant increase in prize money for the 2026 Women's World Matchplay, with £40,000 now on offer as opposed to the £25,000 prize pool 12 months ago.
Venue & Location
The Women's World Matchplay has been a highlight on the women's tour since 2022.
The event has taken place at Blackpool's iconic Winter Gardens, the same venue that the PDC's World Matchplay, which is a non-gender specific event, is hosted.
The Winter Gardens, which is a Grade II listed building, opened in 1878, with the competition taking place within the impressive Empress Ballroom.
Line-up and Draw
- (1) Beau Greaves v (8) Kirsi Viinikainen
- (4) Gemma Hayter v (5) Vicky Pruim
- (2) Lisa Ashton v (7) Rhian O’Sullivan
- (3) Fallon Sherrock v (6) Deta Hedman
Eight of the finest female players on planet darts will toe the oche in Blackpool this year, including reigning champion Lisa Ashton and the sport's most decorated star Beau Greaves.
Fallon Sherrock, who has reached three of the four Women's World Matchplay finals to date, is also amongst the field.
Format and Rules
Quarter-Finals - Best of nine legs
Semi-Finals - Best of nine legs
Final - Best of 11 legs
The Women's World Matchplay is a straight knockout event, played over a best-of-legs format.
The number of legs in a match is nine across the quarter-finals and semi-finals before it increases to a maximum of 11 for the final.
History
The Women's World Matchplay has been played annually since 2022 and is one of the most illustrious events on the female circuit.
First won by Fallon Sherrock four years ago, Beau Greaves went on to reign supreme in 2023 and 2024 before being denied of an unprecedented treble by Lisa Ashton, who captured the top prize in 2025.
