World Matchplay

The World Matchplay is held from 16 till 24 July 2016. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen is the third player in history to successfully defend his title.

In the first round there are a few big upsets. Mervyn King who plays a strong tournament throws James Wade, who until this year always at least reaches the quarterfinals, out of the tournament. Raymond van Barneveld also does not survive the first round, he loses to Brendan Dolan, and that is the second year in a row the Dutchman does not survive the first round. Also Jelle Klaasen goes home after one round, good-old Steve Beaton beats him. In total six seeded players loose in the first round.

A round later, the big favourites go safely through, the biggest surprise is maybe young Englishman Michael Smith, who is not able to get past Beaton. In the quarterfinals the tournament really catches fire. Some great games, but when the smoke clears the top four seeds have made it to the semi-finals.

Michael van Gerwen wins his semi-final over Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor has unexpectedly little problems with the Scottish world champion Gary Anderson. For Taylor its his sixteenth final in Blackpool, but it will not be his sixteenth title. From the start of the final, Van Gerwen is sharper on his doubles and Dutchman makes a big run from 3-2 to 7-2, a lead that he will not give away in the remainder of the final.

Van Gerwen retains his title and still holds seven of the nine majors titles in his name.