World Matchplay Darts 2024: Littler Gunning for Success in Blackpool

The World Matchplay Darts takes centre stage over the next week, with 32 players battling to claim the title and a whopping £200,000 payout in Blackpool. 
 
Nathan Aspinall is the defending champion after defeating Jonny Clayton 18-6 in the 2023 final and he will be eager to retain the title. 
 
Read on as we take a look at some of the key betting angles to consider for a tournament that always generates a ton of activity on UK betting sites. 

The draw for the first round of the 2024 World Matchplay Darts is as follows: 

• Gerwyn Price vs Daryl Gurney 
• Jonny Clayton vs Raymond van Barneveld 
• Luke Humphries vs Ricardo Pietreczko 
• Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Woodhouse 
• Ross Smith vs Josh Rock 
• Danny Noppert vs James Wade 
• Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Martin Schindler 
• Stephen Bunting vs Ryan Joyce 
• Rob Cross vs Gian van Veen 
• Joe Cullen vs Brendan Dolan 
• Peter Wright vs Andrew Gilding 
• Dave Chisnall vs Krzysztof Ratajski 
• Damon Heta vs Ryan Searle 
• Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson 

The latest outright odds for the tournament (via Rhino Bet) are as follows: 

• Luke Humphries - 3/1 
• Luke Littler - 4/1 
• Gerwyn Price - 15/2 
• Michael van Gerwen - 9/1 
• Rob Cross - 14/1 
• Gary Anderson - 18/1 
• Michael Smith - 18/1 
• Stephen Bunting - 28/1 
• Chris Dobey - 33/1 
• Josh Rock - 33/1 
• Nathan Aspinall - 33/1 
• Dave Chisnall - 40/1 
• Jonny Clayton - 40/1 
• Ross Smith - 40/1 
• Damon Heta - 50/1 
• Danny Noppert - 50/1 
• Dimitri van den Bergh - 50/1 
• Martin Schindler - 50/1 
• Ryan Searle - 50/1 
• Peter Wright - 66/1 
• Gian van Veen - 80/1 
• Joe Cullen - 80/1 
• James Wade - 100/1 
• Daryl Gurney - 125/1 
• Krzysztof Ratajski - 125/1 
• Luke Woodhouse - 150/1 
• Raymond van Barneveld - 150/1 
• Ritchie Edhouse - 150/1 
• Ryan Joyce - 150/1 
• Ricardo Pietreczko - 200/1 
• Andrew Gilding - 250/1 
• Brendan Dolan - 250/1 

Luke Humphries is the 3/1 favourite on betting apps to win the World Matchplay, but there are several reasons why he can be opposed. 
 
He has won just one title since beating Luke Littler to become world champion and is not quite hitting his usual levels. 
 
Masters champion Stephen Bunting is a potential second round opponent, while in-form Jonny Clayton could be waiting in the quarter-finals. 
 
Clayton finished runner-up last year after we tipped him as the standout each-way bet and his odds of 40/1 could tempt punters looking for value this year. 
 
Fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price is in the same half of the draw, but he will need to improve on the form he has shown this season. 
 
With Aspinall, Josh Rock and Ross Smith also in the top section of the draw, Humpries makes limited appeal as betting proposition. 
 
By contrast, Littler’s odds of 4/1 could be a steal if he can safely navigate his way past Michael van Gerwen in the first round. 
 
Littler has been in fine form since bursting onto the scene and he should make a deep run if he sees off the Dutchman in his opening match. 

Michael Smith's first-round clash with Gary Anderson is another eye-catching game in the bottom half of the draw. 
 
Smith does not have a great record in this tournament and could be vulnerable against a player who will have plenty of support at the Winter Gardens.