By Tyler Hart on 180UK Debut
The Winter Gardens in Blackpool has become a staple within professional darts, as it hosts one of the PDC’s greatest events, the World Matchplay, where 32 of the world’s best players collide in leg format. There has been multiple top class matches in the iconic venue. Here are 10 matches that you should watch, or rewatch, before the Blackpool magic starts again.
Gary Anderson 21-19 Mensur Suljovic – 2018 Final
Let’s start with what many consider one of the best finals of all time. A 40-leg clash between two veterans of the sport. Back and forth and 59 combined missed darts at double, this match had it all. Yet they still both averaged higher than 101, with 28 180’s split evenly between the pair. A 15 darter after many breaks of throw saw Gary Anderson complete the ‘Triple Crown’ of darts (World Championship, World Matchplay and the Premier League), a feat only accomplished by Phil Taylor and Michael Van Gerwen.
Gary Anderson 19-17 Joe Cullen – 2018 Quarter Final
We may have not seen Gary Anderson claim that ‘Triple Crown’ if it wasn’t for ‘Fly-gate’. In the quarter final of the same tournament, Anderson clashed with ‘The Rockstar’ Joe Cullen. Which saw Anderson pin the first nine-dart leg in the Winter Gardens since Phil Taylor’s in 2014 against Michael Smith. An astonishing display of darts was followed up by a Cullen ‘Big Fish’. But the 170 wasn’t enough to deter the ‘Flying Scotsman’, but a fly seemingly deterred Cullen’s attempt at double nine which would’ve won him the match. To think what could’ve been if there wasn’t the disruption.
Rod Harrington 19-17 Peter Manley – 1999 Final
Let’s dive into the past with a dramatic title defence, something that was never done before in Matchplay history until this match. Rod Harrington faced Peter Manley in a match that didn’t have the flashiest overall averages but the moments and the tension make it worth a watch/rewatch, specifically ‘One Dart’ Manley’s ridiculous nine-dart attempt, on 144, going T18, D20, Bull. The bull was unfortunately missed and the nine year wait for a nine darter would go on longer. The score eventually went to 17-17, but Harrington took the two legs he needed to win, the final leg being won with a stupendous 136 checkout.
Adrian Lewis 17-15 Michael Van Gerwen – 2013 Semi Final
The 2013 edition of the World Matchplay is highly considered to be the greatest, and that is thanks to two clinics brought to us by ‘Jackpot’ Adrian Lewis. His semi-final bout with Michael Van Gerwen was an all-time classic from the first few legs, a 121 early doors from Lewis set the bar high and they kept on raising it. 180 after 180, ton plus checkout after ton plus checkout. Michael’s resilience, Adrian’s grit. All sealed with a killer blow 180 by the 2-time World Champion to, as Adrian won 17-15 after taking out 28.
Phil Taylor 18-13 Adrian Lewis – 2013 Final
While Adrian Lewis brought everything he had to reach the final, he would be met by the man that had his name imprinted on the trophy 16 different times, the man who had the trophy named after him. ‘The Power’ was who awaited him, and Adrian played exceptionally well, a 105.92 average, a whopping 19 180’s, a 127 checkout, just was not enough to beat Taylor, as he delivered an incredible 111.23 average. He also had 34 darts at double hitting 18, a 52.94% checkout success rate. This match just proves why Phil Taylor is the ‘King of the Matchplay’.
Andy Hamilton 17-15 Simon Whitlock – 2011 Quarter Final
Hamilton simply should never have won this match, Whitlock was winning 15-8, and he only needed the one leg to win the entire match and qualify for the semi-finals. He proceeded to miss five match darts as Hamilton went nine legs on the bounce to claim victory against a bewildered ‘Wizard’.
Phil Taylor 18-16 John Part – 2002 Final
This final between two of darts’ strongest forces was a proper tussle, a back-and-forth contest that would last 34 legs, which included a 161 checkout by Taylor instantly responded to by a 160 by the ‘Darth Maple’. After relentless darts from both competitors, it was ‘The Power’ that claimed a third consecutive title, a streak that will last a further three years.
Glen Durrant 13-11 Michael Van Gerwen – 2019 2nd Round
When two reigning world champions collide, only one can survive, and this time it was the PDC’s number one that tasted defeat, Glen Durrant had just made the switch from the BDO to the PDC, and after pinning the winning double, ‘Duzza’ commented “I thought nothing would beat the first Lakeside (BDO World Championship), but nothing can tell you how good I feel right now. I just beat Michael Van Gerwen.” Not only was it an emotional match, but it was also a brilliant contest between two three-time champs.
Luke Humphries 18-15 Michael Van Gerwen – Final
‘Cool Hand’ played his hand in a dramatic final, he averaged 100.94 in a tight scrap between Michael Van Gerwen. Luke’s fantastic checkouts, a 141, a 131, and a winning 100 with two in the D20. Van Gerwen gave him a good fight, which is more the reason why this match is so rewatchable, and a must have on this list.
Phil Taylor 17-15 Gary Anderson – 2014 Semi Final
The list should end with potentially the greatest World Matchplay match of all time, It is well regarded as the most evenly fought bout of all time. As they both ended with a 0.41% average difference. But while Taylor had the lesser average (105.27), he kept cool and maintained his throw, until Anderson caught second wind, flourishing on Taylor’s botched opportunities. But eventually there was only going to be one winner, and it was the eventual champion that came on top, after a clean two-dart 81 finish on D12.