Littler learns first-round opponent at Winter Gardens
The draw for the Betfred World Matchplay 2026 has been confirmed, with defending champion Luke Littler set to face Germany's Niko Springer in the opening round. The tournament takes place at the historic Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 18-26, live on Sky Sports.
Littler, who secured the Phil Taylor Trophy last year with a stunning comeback from 5-0 down to beat James Wade 18-13 in the final, will be looking to become the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2015 to win back-to-back Matchplay titles.
"It's always special returning to Blackpool as champion. The Winter Gardens holds so much history and I'm ready for the challenge," Littler said after the draw was revealed.
Standout first-round clashes
The draw has thrown up several mouth-watering ties. Second seed Luke Humphries faces a tricky test against Cameron Menzies, while Michael van Gerwen — a three-time Matchplay winner — meets in-form Andrew Gilding, who has climbed the rankings impressively over the past year.
Other notable pairings include Nathan Aspinall against Joe Cullen, Josh Rock versus Luke Woodhouse, and Jonny Clayton taking on Damon Heta. The full first-round draw is:
- (1) Luke Littler v Niko Springer
- (16) Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen
- (8) Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse
- (9) Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld
- (4) Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding
- (13) Chris Dobey v Dirk van Duijvenbode
- (5) Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta
- (12) Gary Anderson v Ryan Joyce
- (2) Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies
- (15) Ross Smith v Kevin Doets
- (7) Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler
- (10) Danny Noppert v Rob Cross
- (3) Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski
- (14) Wessel Nijman v Dave Chisnall
- (6) James Wade v Jermaine Wattimena
- (11) Ryan Searle v William O'Connor
Prize money boosted to £1 million
The PDC has increased the prize purse for the 2026 event to £1 million, with the winner set to collect £225,000. The tournament features the top 16 players from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder alongside the best 16 performers from the one-year ProTour rankings, ensuring a blend of established stars and emerging talent.
How to watch
All nine days of the World Matchplay will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with coverage of the opening night beginning on Sky Sports+ at 7pm. For those without a Sky subscription, non-contract streaming is available via NOW.
Key Takeaways
- Luke Littler begins his title defence against Niko Springer on the opening night.
- Second seed Luke Humphries faces a dangerous opponent in Cameron Menzies.
- Michael van Gerwen takes on Andrew Gilding in a repeat of their recent Premier League clash.
- Total prize money has risen to £1 million, with £225,000 going to the champion.
- The tournament runs from July 18-26 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.
Quick Facts
Tournament: Betfred World Matchplay 2026
Dates: July 18-26
Venue: Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Defending champion: Luke Littler
Total prize fund: £1,000,000
Winner's share: £225,000
Broadcast: Sky Sports
