BY JOSH GREEN
The World Matchplay returns for its 26th iteration on the 20nd July, as 32 of the worlds elite darting stars take to the Blackpool stage over nine days of action at the Winter Gardens.
The PDC will combine the top 16 in the two-year rolling order of merit, with the top 16 players in the 2019 Pro Tour order of merit, making up a 32-man field.
No 1 seed Glen Durrant is bracing himself for the toughest match of his career when he starts the defence of his BDO Lakeside World championship on Sunday lunchtime. The record books show Eric Bristow and Raymond van Barneveld are the only first-time winners of the BDO championship to retain the trophy – and that’s the challenge facing Durrant this year.
Lakeside legends Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams and Lisa Ashton both toe the oche on the opening day of the 41st BDO World Championship. Adams makes his 25th consecutive appearance at the championship – he lifted the trophy in 2007, 2010 and 2011 – and Ashton also starts her bid for a fourth women’s title in five years. The match between Adams and Mark McGeeney launches the championship on Saturday afternoon – and it’s a tough start for ‘Wolfie.’ McGeeney heads to the Lakeside as the BDO’s No 2 having been there or thereabouts throughout 2017, winning four titles, including the Dutch Open and English Classic, and reaching the World Masters final.
Ashton starts her defence of the women’s championship against Rhian Griffiths and though Deta Hedman is the No 1 seed, Trina Gulliver says her best friend is the player to beat. “Lisa is so fluent,” said the 10 times world champion, “and when she’s at her best, she’s tough to beat. “She’s on fire at the moment – and she’s hungry to keep her title.”
Scott Mitchell enters the BDO Lakeside World Championship believing he’s playing as well as he was when he lifted the trophy in 2015. Mitchell gave the championship one of its greatest nights when he won the title. His final with Martin Adams went all the way to a deciding 13th set – and Mitchell nailed a 158 check out to break the throw that proved to be the turning point. The 47 year old hasn’t got beyond the quarter finals at the Lakeside since then, but his form over the last 12 months is good. “I won five tournaments,” he said, “and form is as good as it’s ever been. “I’m playing as well as I was when I won the world title – and that’s all down to confidence. “I’m not trying to convince myself, or other people, that I’m playing well. I’m proving it by going out there and winning tournaments. “But I know that as a darts player, it’s all about what you do at the Lakeside and in the World Masters.