World Matchplay 2026 – Second‑Round Showdown: Predictions and Preview

The 2026 World Matchplay rolls into Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens from July 18‑26, and after a jittery first night the draw for round two is finally set. Thirty‑two of the sport’s sharpest shooters – the top‑16 from the PDC Order of Merit plus the next‑best 16 from the ProTour rankings – will be battling for a £225,000 winner’s share.

Defending champion Luke Littler steps up as the number 1 seed after a clinical 109.5 average in his opening 11‑5 win over Niko Springer. Littler’s confidence will be key when he meets the 16th seed, Nathan Aspinall, who survived a tense 10‑9 first‑round thriller.

On the other side of the board, Gary Anderson (seed 12) looks the picture of form. He skated past Ryan Joyce 10‑2, posting a near‑100 average, and Alex Walsh thinks the Scottish veteran will edge past Jonny Clayton (seed 5) 13‑11.

Michael van Gerwen, ever‑reliable at seed 4, is set to clash with Dirk van Duijvenbode. Both players showed a little rust in round one, but Walsh bets the Dutch legend’s experience will carry him to an 11‑7 victory.

Stephen Bunting (seed 9) will meet the hot‑handed Josh Rock (seed 8). After a hard‑fought first‑round defeat, Rock will need to tighten his checkout percentages, and Walsh gives the edge to Bunting, predicting a 11‑9 win.

Perhaps the most intriguing tie is James Wade (seed 6) versus Ryan Searle (seed 11). Wade has only beaten Searle once in four meetings, and the two‑set margin in Searle’s predicted 12‑10 triumph could be the tightest of the night.

Finally, a surprise may be on the cards when Wessel Nijman (seed 14) takes on Gian van Veen (seed 3). Walsh foresees an upset, with Nijman pulling off an 11‑8 win despite the ranking gap.