Favorite Luke Littler stands out in the competition for the World Match Play championship
The 2025 World Matchplay Darts tournament is gearing up for an exciting edition, with some of the best players in the sport set to compete in Blackpool, England starting on Saturday.
Defending champion Luke Humphries will be aiming for back-to-back titles, having clinched the 2024 title with an impressive performance that saw him average over 100 in all five matches. As the current number one ranked player in the world, Humphries is a strong favorite to retain his crown, with odds of +400 to win the tournament. Notably, he has beaten Luke Littler, another top contender, in their last two meetings.
Littler, the reigning world champion and number two ranked player globally, is also expected to make a strong challenge. He has shown impressive form recently, winning two of his last three and three of his last five outings. Littler, who has odds of +175 to win the tournament, will face Ryan Searle in the first round, a match he is a massive -700 favorite to win. However, it's worth noting that in 2024, Littler was knocked out in the opening round by Michael van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen, a three-time World Matchplay champion, remains a perennial contender despite recent form fluctuations. With five finals appearances in the tournament and three championships to his name, the Dutchman is always a threat. He faces Raymond van Barneveld in the first round, a match that promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament. Van Gerwen has odds of +1600 to win the tournament.
Other established stars vying for the title include Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting, and Gerwyn Price. Aspinall has +2200 odds, Bunting +2000, and Price +850.
The tournament will also see the return of Gary Anderson, who has +2000 odds to win the tournament.
Luke Littler, who is backed by darts betting sites to bounce back strong in the 2025 World Matchplay, will be looking to avenge his 2024 exit and secure his first World Matchplay title. Meanwhile, Humphries will be aiming to become only the second player after Van Gerwen to win back-to-back titles.
Key first-round matches with high anticipation feature Humphries vs. Van Veen, Van Gerwen vs. Van Barneveld, and Littler vs. Searle. The 2025 World Matchplay Darts tournament promises to be a thrilling event, with many exciting matchups in store.
Sports betting enthusiasts have odds of +175 to back Luke Littler for winning the 2025 World Matchplay Darts tournament, while defending champion Luke Humphries has +400 odds for retaining his title. Additionally, betting sites suggest that spectators might witness some enthralling matchups in the first round, such as Humphries versus Van Veen, Van Gerwen versus Van Barneveld, and Littler against Searle.
