Defending World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall had a tough time in the first round in Blackpool. Aspinall, who is dealing with an elbow injury, managed to secure a 10-8 victory against Luke Woodhouse on Saturday night. The 32-year-old will undergo surgery after the tournament. Despite being an early break down, Aspinall turned the game around from 3-2 down to 6-3 up. Woodhouse fought back to level the match at 6-6, but Aspinall ultimately prevailed by hitting D20 and holding his throw.
In another exciting match, Luke Humphries delivered a statement victory by defeating Ricardo Pietreczko 10-4. Fresh from winning the World Cup of Darts with Michael Smith, Humphries showcased his skills by averaging 108.76, the highest average at the World Matchplay in three years. Pietreczko also played well but couldn’t match Humphries’ performance.
Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton also had impressive wins. Price defeated Daryl Gurney 10-4, showing his passion and determination on the stage. Clayton secured a 10-7 victory over Raymond van Barneveld after a tough battle. The World Matchplay action continues on Sunday with exciting fixtures lined up for the afternoon and evening sessions. Due to the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain, the sessions have been moved forward to 12pm and 4.30pm.
In the afternoon session, fans can look forward to matches such as Ross Smith vs. Josh Rock, Danny Noppert vs. James Wade, Dimitri Van den Bergh vs. Martin Schindler, and Stephen Bunting vs. Ryan Joyce. The evening session will feature former world champion Rob Cross against Gian van Veen, Peter Wright facing Andrew Gilding, and Dave Chisnall taking on Krzysztof Ratajski.
Overall, the World Matchplay Darts tournament promises more thrilling matches and intense competition as players battle it out for victory. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports Action. Don’t miss out on the excitement of the World Matchplay Darts tournament!