The World Matchplay at Winter Gardens is one of the highlights of the darting calendar as the world's top-32 players battle it out for one of the PDC's premier prizes, and we've got everything you need to know ahead of the 2027 event.
The competition is the PDC's second-longest running darts tournament, having been first staged in 1994, and it's an event that forms one of the three legs of the Triple Crown.
Luke Littler is the defending champion after dispatching Gerwyn Price 18-9 in the 2026 final, claiming his second consecutive World Matchplay title.
Dates
The dates for the 2027 World Matchplay are yet to be confirmed but will likely fall around the same date as the 2026 edition, taking place in late July 2027.
Prize Money
Winner (1): | £225,000 |
Runner-Up (1): | £125,000 |
Semi-Final Losers (2): | £65,000 |
Quarter-Final Losers (4): | £35,000 |
Second Round Losers (8): | £22,500 |
First Round Losers (16): | £12,500 |
There was been a 25 percent increase in prize money for the 2026 World Matchplay, with the winner picking up a £225,000 share, as opposed to the £200,000 they earned 12 months ago.
2026 World Matchplay Prize Money confirmed
Venue & Location
The World Matchplay has been lighting up the town of Blackpool since 1994, and will likely continue to do so in 2027.
A temporary switch to Milton Keynes in 2020, marked the only occasion the event has moved away from the historic Winter Gardens.
The iconic venue opened in 1878, it is a Grade II listed building and the event itself is held in the impressive Empress Ballroom.
Line-up and Qualifying
The iconic summer tournament will see 32 of the world's top stars battling it out across nine days for the Phil Taylor Trophy and £1 million in prize money.
The top 16 players in the world, based on the PDC Order of Merit, will be guaranteed their spots at the event, with the other 16 competitors consisting of qualifiers - all of which will be set in stone closer to the event next summer.
Format and Rules
First Round: Best-of-19 legs
Second Round: Best-of-21 legs
Quarter-finals: Best-of-31 legs
Semi-finals: Best-of-33 legs
Final: Best-of-35 legs
All matches have to be won by two clear legs, with a match being extended if necessary for a maximum of six extra legs before a tie-break leg is required.
For example, in a first to 10 legs first round match, if the score reaches 12–12 then the 25th leg will be the decider.
History
The World Matchplay has been played annually since 1994 and it is the second-longest running PDC tournament.
The 2027 renewal will be the 34th staging of the Triple Crown event, which was first won by American Larry Butler.
Luke Littler returns as the defending champion after dispatching Gerwyn Price 18-9 in the 2026 final, claiming his second consecutive World Matchplay title.
As with most darts events, Phil Taylor currently holds the record for the most titles, having won the competition a remarkable 16 times - highlighting his special love affair with Winter Gardens.
2024 runner-up MVG is next best with three titles and Rod Harrington and Littler the only other players to have won the prestigious event on more than one occasion.
