The World Matchplay is the second most prestigious tournament in darts – and the second longest running - but only 14 different players have managed to get their hands on the trophy since the inaugural edition way back in 1994.
The main reason for this is that Phil Taylor remarkably won 16 of the 17 Blackpool finals he appeared in – and averaged over 100 in 12 of them! Hence, Michael van Gerwen deserves a lot of credit for being the only player to deny him a clean sweep!
As we approach the 33rd edition of the Winter Gardens showpiece, which is the only major event never to have changed venue (aside the covid event of 2020) I’m going to look at 10 of the best players never to have won it.
Of course there's a handful on this list who still have time to do it...
Peter Manley
- World Matchplay Appearances: 13
- World Matchplay Finals: 1 (1999)
Peter was runner-up in 1999 when losing one of the closest finals of all time against Rod Harrington.
When he looks back he probably thinks he really should have won it but he was agonisingly pipped 19-17 as Harrington lifted the trophy for the second year in a row.
It wasn’t the best of standards, with both players averaging in the mid-80s, but the closeness made it so memorable and very exciting to watch. It went on for ages and was one of the most encapsulating finals we’ve ever had.
Peter actually did the hardest job of all in the semi-finals when overcoming his nemesis Phil Taylor 17-14 but he’s certainly not the only player to pull off this feat in a major tournament only to lose in the next game. Just ask Wayne Mardle – or even me! I once beat him at the UK Open then lost to James Wade the very next day, although I did of course do it on my way to winning my Players Championship Finals title.
Peter didn’t get another crack at a final in Blackpool which is somewhat surprising given what else he achieved so he’ll be gutted he didn’t take his chance and further enhance his legacy.
Alan Warriner-Little
- World Matchplay Appearances: 14
- World Matchplay Finals: 2 (1997 & 2000)
Alan was a multiple time world number one in the 1990s and early noughties which naturally elevates him to a higher level of greatness compared to other major winners down the years, so having this title in his locker would have given his name even more gravitas.
Unfortunately, he ran into Phil Taylor on two occasions in 1997 and 2000 during a time when the Power was generally seen as unbeatable.
Taylor averaged a phenomenal 106 and 100 in those two finals but Alan produced superb performances of his own (98 and 97) to give him a run for his money during the 16-11 and 18-12 defeats.
John Part
- World Matchplay Appearances: 15
- World Matchplay Finals: 2 (2002 & 2005)
John also reached two finals at the Winter Gardens but I put him above Alan in this list because of the other titles he won in his career – including three world championships.
He ran into Taylor in an epic 2002 final in which he showed his trademark battling spirit every step of the way and defying his opponent’s impressive 98 average before eventually losing 18-16.
It was partly John’s fault that Phil was so dominant because he was one of the few players who could really push him to these new levels.
The 2005 final holds a strong place in many darts fans’ hearts because of how Colin Lloyd won it with a 170 checkout, his celebration and the hug he shared with John at the end.
One of the few times anyone came up against someone other than Taylor in a final, it was sod’s law Lloydy was enjoying such a hot spell, so I’m sure John was gutted deep down that he couldn’t add this title to his illustrious list of others from his career.
Terry Jenkins
- World Matchplay Appearances: 13
- World Matchplay Finals: 2 (2007 & 2009)
I have Terry in second place because of the amount of overall near-misses in his career, even though John is obviously a more successful player.
He was a two-time runner-up here in 2007 and 2009 but he also lost seven other major finals between 2006 and 2014, making him one of the greatest players never to win any!
I don’t want to sound harsh on Terry because he has played well in some of these finals but ultimately he ran into legends at the wrong time and suffered resounding defeats in pretty much all of them.
In Blackpool he lost 18-7 to James Wade when he was really starting to cook and two years later he was thrashed 18-4 by Taylor, who averaged 106!
This was the story of Terry’s career. If he’d come up against a ‘one tournament wonder’ or someone of similar standing, he’d definitely have got the job done. Nobody gives him the credit for how good a player he actually was.
Dennis Priestley
- World Matchplay Appearances: 17
- World Matchplay Finals: 3 (1994, 1995 & 1996)
As a three-time runner-up at the Winter Gardens, Dennis Priestley has to be regarded as the greatest player never to have won the World Matchplay.
The fact he didn’t get his hands on this trophy is almost criminal – and he only lost to Taylor in one of them.
Dennis contested the first three finals against Larry Butler, Taylor and Peter Evison but lost them 16-12, 16-11 and 16-14 respectively.
Even though Dennis will never admit this, failure to win this title will grate on him until the day he leaves us.
After winning the inaugural PDC World Championship, he not only lost these three Matchplay finals but also another four at the Circus Tavern so his CV really should have more PDC success on it.
The ripple effect of him not gaining more confidence from these Matchplay finals – especially against Butler and Evison - may have contributed to him not picking up more world titles.
You have to give credit to Evison because he did average a stunning 100 compared to Priestley’s 97 in a truly high-class final but ultimately it’ll feel like a missed opportunity.
Adrian Lewis
- World Matchplay Appearances: 17
- World Matchplay Finals: 1 (2013)
Although Adrian's comeback to darts hasn't yet resulted in him trying to win his Tour Card back, we’re all hopeful he can achieve this in the not too distant future and maybe, just maybe, return to major winning form.
Jackpot has the highest losing final average in World Matchplay history of 105.92 during his 18-13 defeat to Phil Taylor in 2013.
It just goes to show how well the Power had to play in that final as he managed an astonishing 111.23! If he’d played anyone else, Jackpot would have a World Matchplay title to add to his other major crowns for sure.
Maybe this will prove to be his final chance to triumph in Blackpool unless he has an inspirational second wind to his career in the coming years.
Raymond van Barneveld
- World Matchplay Appearances: 15
- World Matchplay Finals: 1 (2010)
Considering everything that Barney has achieved, it’s surprised that he’s only appeared in one Blackpool final and that was back in 2010, when he lost 18-12 to Phil Taylor.
He averaged over 100 that day too, but he became yet another player to run into Phil at the wrong time as the Power averaged 105.
He’s won five different major titles in the PDC but his record at the Winter Gardens is pretty strange and only reached the quarter-finals once in his last eight appearances there between 2011 and 2018.
Michael Smith
- World Matchplay Appearances: 12
- World Matchplay Finals: 1 (2019)
Going into that final in 2019 against Rob Cross, everyone had Michael Smith as the favourite because he looked ready for a first major title.
People doubted whether Rob had the arsenal needed to take Bully Boy out but nobody expected him to be gifted such a big early lead.
Michael got off to an awful start – maybe due to all the expectations – but despite a valiant comeback, it was too little too late in an 18-13 defeat.
Had Michael got off to a better start, he’d have won that final and probably would have a lot more majors by now. In fact he might be standing here now as a multiple world champion.
After defeat to Cross, he lost two more of his eight major finals in deciding legs but if he’d had the confidence of being a World Matchplay champion, he won’t have found getting over the line so tough.
Jonny Clayton
- World Matchplay Appearances: 8
- World Matchplay Finals: 1 (2023)
He has been close, but we all know that year he reached the final in 2023 was fraught with extremely hard personal circumstances. If the stars align and Jonny finds a vein of form that clicks, he could find one of the missing pieces to his career puzzle.
Lesser players than Jonny Clayton have won this title in the past. He, on form, is one of the most stunning finishers the sport will ever see and he’s done it over multiple disciplines. He’s proven at the format, he’s popular even though he’s not English and I think as each year passes, he understands that he’s running out of time to get this. That will give him motivation as he’s not got the time that Wade, Littler and Humphries had when they were gunning for their first.
Another thing that helps is how well he plays against the top 2 in the world. He can take them on and not look back when others are struggling to keep pace.
Jonny would be a romantic winner, but romance doesn’t always get you what you want in darts. It’s accuracy, heart, fight and skill and Clayton has them all by the bucket full.
Gerwyn Price
- World Matchplay Appearances: 11
- World Matchplay Finals: 1 (2022)
Even though he has stated recently that he’s lacking motivation, he still owns the capability of winning this title. His scoring ability and prowess at playing long format Matchplay has been evident throughout his Grand Slam victories and World Championship win in 2021. He has also had excellent runs in this very event prior to 2026.
I don’t think the format is the issue, because for some people it is. Some players just can’t go the distance, but he can. If he chooses to is another thing. I am not even sure him being Welsh is the biggest factor, but if he were in a final against a popular English foe, that would make it doubly tough.
So, how does he win it in future? Motivation to succeed, people saying he can’t be bothered and people genuinely casting him aside might get the fire burning and get him primed for an unexpected run to the title. Whether that is this year or another is a different thing, but most people would say he is one the best players of all time not to lift the Phil Taylor trophy. Maybe even the best.
World Matchplay: Past finals
- 1994 - Larry Butler 16-12 Dennis Priestley
- 1995 - Phil Taylor 16-11 Dennis Priestley
- 1996 - Peter Evison 16-14 Dennis Priestley
- 1997 - Phil Taylor 16-11 Alan Warriner
- 1998 - Rod Harrington 19-17 Ronnie Baxter
- 1999 - Rod Harrington 19-17 Peter Manley
- 2000 - Phil Taylor 18-12 Alan Warriner
- 2001 - Phil Taylor 18-10 Richie Burnett
- 2002 - Phil Taylor 18-16 John Part
- 2003 - Phil Taylor 18-12 Wayne Mardle
- 2004 - Phil Taylor 18-8 Mark Dudbridge
- 2005 - Colin Lloyd 18-12 John Part
- 2006 - Phil Taylor 18-9 James Wade
- 2007 - James Wade 18-7 Terry Jenkins
- 2008 - Phil Taylor 18-11 James Wade
- 2009 - Phil Taylor 18-4 Terry Jenkins
- 2010 - Phil Taylor 18-12 Raymond van Barneveld
- 2011 - Phil Taylor 18-8 James Wade
- 2012 - Phil Taylor 18-15 James Wade
- 2013 - Phil Taylor 18-13 Adrian Lewis
- 2014 - Phil Taylor 18-9 Michael van Gerwen
- 2015 - Michael van Gerwen 18-12 James Wade
- 2016 - Michael van Gerwen 18-10 Phil Taylor
- 2017 - Phil Taylor 18-8 Peter Wright
- 2018 - Gary Anderson 21-19 Mensur Suljovic
- 2019 - Rob Cross 18-13 Michael Smith
- 2020 - Dimitri Van den Bergh 18-10 Gary Anderson
- 2021 - Peter Wright 18-9 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- 2022 - Michael van Gerwen 18-14 Gerwyn Price
- 2023 - Nathan Aspinall 18-6 Jonny Clayton
- 2024 - Luke Humphries 18-15 Michael van Gerwen
- 2025 - Luke Littler 18-13 James Wade
World Matchplay Most Titles
- Phil Taylor - 16
- Michael van Gerwen - 3
- Rod Harrington - 2
- Luke Littler - 1
- Luke Humphries - 1
- Nathan Aspinall - 1
- Peter Wright - 1
- Dimitri Van den Bergh - 1
- Rob Cross - 1
- Gary Anderson - 1
- Larry Butler - 1
- Peter Evison - 1
- Colin Lloyd - 1
- James Wade - 1
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