The draw for the 2017 World Matchplay, which will take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from the 22nd to the 30th July, was made earlier on. The two times defending champion Michael van Gerwen will start the defence of his title against the out-of-form 2014 Lakeside champion Stephen Bunting. Van Gerwen’s projected route to the final, based on seeding, would include a quarter-final against Phil Taylor, who has won the event fifteen times.
The number two seed Gary Anderson will face the Dutchman Christian Kist in the first round, who cannot be ruled out of having a very good run in this event if he can transfer his superb floor form to the TV stage. The massively in-form third seed Peter Wright will face James ‘Jammie Dodger’ Wilson in the first round and will be expected to go far in the event, but Wright has never surpassed the semi-final stage of this event and that may prove a hurdle with so many highly experienced players in the field.
Another seeded player to look out for is the sixth seed James Wade. He has won the event before, memorably in 2007, and he will definitely be looking to end his three-year TV title drought. He will play the recent Players Championship champion Darren Webster in the first round.
As for other interesting first round ties, Phil Taylor’s match with Gerwyn Price certainly comes to the eye. Price has rapidly rose through the darting ranks from being in the frays of the Top 32 to being a prominent top player, recently playing in a few World Series events. However, if this is to be Phil Taylor’s last Matchplay, he may well come into this event fired up and ready to win his sixteenth World Matchplay title.
This event also sees the inclusion of Rob Cross for the first time at a major event other than the UK Open, and his recent quite unbelievable floor form leads many to believe that he is a serious contender for the title. Can he do it? I see no reason to question his chances. Finally, my one to watch for the event is Joe Cullen, who has won two Players Championship events this year, who faces Raymond van Barneveld in the first round. It may be a tough ask, but I think he has a great chance of defeating the Dutchman. I will be publishing regular reports right throughout the World Matchplay and the Las Vegas Masters, so look out for them. Thanks for reading and catch you later!
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