Catch all the action on Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Arena, and Sky Sports Main Event from Saturday July 22 to Sunday July 29
Monday 17 July 2017 15:07, UK
Gary Anderson and Peter Wright join former champion James Wade in kicking off the 2017 BetVictor World Matchplay on Saturday July 22.
The tournament features a new record £500,000 prize money this year, including £115,000 to the eventual champion, with a £10,000 bonus on offer for a nine-dart finish.
After defending champion Michael van Gerwen was drawn in the same quarter as 15-time champion Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld, the schedule for the week by the seaside has been confirmed.
Thirty-two players go head to head on the Lancashire coast with the first round spread across the opening three days, including a double session on Sunday July 23 after Saturday's curtain raiser.
A high-profile opening night gets underway when Matchplay debutant Steve West takes on former world youth champion Michael Smith, before 2007 champion and five-time runner-up James Wade meets the 'Demolition Man' Darren Webster.
World No 2 Gary Anderson continues his quest for a first Blackpool crown against Dutchman Christian Kist and ending the opening night party in style is 2017 UK Open champion Peter Wright, who plays debutant James Wilson.
Sunday afternoon's session gets underway with Justin Pipe, who clinched the final qualification spot in the tournament last weekend, taking on Jelle Klaasen
Former UK Open and World Grand Prix champion Robert Thornton plays Spanish debutant Cristo Reyes, Benito van de Pas and Daryl Gurney clash in an entertaining-looking tie between two of the circuits rising stars, before former European Championship finalist Mensur Suljovic meets John Henderson.
Sunday night looks like being a cracker when Phil 'The Power' Taylor begins his final challenge in Blackpool when he takes on UK Open finalist Gerwyn Price - it's a tough test for Taylor who will retire from the Tour after the World Championship.
Sunday night also sees Premier League stars Dave Chisnall, Raymond van Barneveld and Kim Huybrechts in action, as they take on Mervyn King, Joe Cullen and Alan Norris respectively.
Van Gerwen, who has won the last two editions of the tournament and has reached the last three finals, is the star attraction on Monday night as the first round comes to its conclusion.
The all-Australian clash between Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson gets the action underway, Adrian Lewis then takes on Steve Beaton, before MVG meets Stephen Bunting. The first round concludes with Ian White against Rob Cross, who has made a whirlwind start to life on the circuit.
The second round is split across Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Blackpool, with the players from the bottom half of the draw playing on Tuesday and those in the top half in action on Wednesday.
The quarter-finals are then split across Thursday and Friday, with the semi-finals on Saturday before the eagerly-awaited final on Sunday.
Saturday July 22 (7pm) - 4 x First Round
Michael Smith v Steve West
James Wade v Darren Webster
Gary Anderson v Christian Kist
Peter Wright v James Wilson
Sunday July 23 Afternoon Session (1pm) - 4 x First Round
Jelle Klaasen v Justin Pipe
Robert Thornton v Cristo Reyes
Benito van de Pas v Daryl Gurney
Mensur Suljovic v John Henderson
Evening Session (7.30pm) 4 x First Round
Dave Chisnall v Mervyn King
Phil Taylor v Gerwyn Price
Raymond van Barneveld v Joe Cullen
Kim Huybrechts v Alan Norris
Monday July 24 (7pm) - 4 x First Round
Simon Whitlock v Kyle Anderson
Adrian Lewis v Steve Beaton
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
Ian White v Rob Cross
Tuesday July 25 (7pm) - 4 x Second Round
Suljovic/Henderson v Klaasen/Pipe
Wade/Webster v Smith/West
Anderson/Kist v Van de Pas/Gurney
Wright/Wilson v Thornton/Reyes
Wednesday July 26 (7pm) - 4 x Second Round
Chisnall/King v Huybrechts/Norris
Lewis/Beaton v White/Cross
Taylor/Price v Van Barneveld/Cullen
Van Gerwen/Bunting v Whitlock/Anderson
Thursday July 27 (7pm)
2 x Quarter-Finals
Friday July 28 (7pm)
2 x Quarter-Finals
Saturday July 29 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Sunday July 30 (7pm)
Final
Don't forget that you can see all the action from the World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool, live on Sky Sports. The arrows run from Saturday July 22 right through until the final on Sunday July 30.
Who will win the World Matchplay at the world famous Empress Ballroom? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting @SkySportsDarts or by using the comments box below - sign in with Facebook. Follow us on Twitter & use #LoveTheDarts
