We’re down to the Quarter-Final stages of The World Matchplay Darts 2024 with the cream slowly rising to the top and four mouth-watering contests set for Thursday and Friday at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
World Matchplay Darts 2024: Cool Hand Warming Up
Tonight’s action at the World Matchplay will see the first 2 of our last 8 games take place where 2007 World Matchplay Champion ‘The Machine’ James Wade takes on former European Champion Ross Smith. Smith, on a huge trajectory in the last 12 months, denied the 2022 runner-up Gerwyn Price on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. World Champion Luke Humphries faces 2020 champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, in a repeat of March’s UK Open showpiece.
World Matchplay Darts 2024: Smashing Smith
Ross Smith has a chance for a potentially career-defining performance, should he get the better of ‘The Machine’ this evening in Blackpool, and I think he can defeat Wade to move into the semi-finals. His dominant yet fiery victories over Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price have marked him as a formidable opponent, who is starting to translate his floor form onto the big stage.
It was a demolition job of Gezzy earlier in the week, humbling the Welshman in front of a rabid Blackpool crowd smashing in an eye-watering 13 x 180s and 35 x 140s. That level of scoring is unprecedented and shows how powerful the Dover native is at the top of the board. Providing he brings with him the level of scoring that saw him dismantle the pair of Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price, with a doubles game that sees him stay strong on his
World Matchplay Darts 2024: Well-Oiled Machine
James Wade, the 2007 World Matchplay Champion, overcame defending champion Nathan Aspinall in the previous round, with ‘The Asp’ finally conceding defeat to the nagging shoulder injury that has dogged him all season. ‘The Machine’ came out firing in his press conference with the darting media afterwards, pointing out that if you take out Phil Taylor and Michael Van Gerwen then nobody has won more than him from the current field. His defeat of Nathan Aspinall means he has reached the Quarter-Finals stage of a major tournament 18 of the last 19 years. The year he didn’t? He won twice on the Euro Tour in front of the ITV cameras!
Perhaps James can lean on experience if the going gets tough and take his opportunities. That’s what he does, right? Wadey last reached the semi-finals of The World Matchplay in 2015 and undoubtedly has the experience, but I just think Ross Smith’s scoring power and momentum sees him into the final four.
The second quarter-final pits Luke Humphries against Dimitri Van den Bergh in what promises to be a belter of a contest, and a repeat of that extraordinary UK Open Final. The World Number One showed incredible humility in difficult circumstances that night and followed-up when runner-up to Luke Littler in the Premier League final in May.
World Matchplay Darts 2024: Humble Humphries
The reigning World Champion has been phenomenal at The World Matchplay thus far, showing the type of form that saw him . For a moment we did think that the Bullet could cause a huge upset against Luke but as usual managed to come through and record another 102 average in both Blackpool victories against Stephen Bunting and Ricardo Pietreczko respectively.
Can Dimi create another magic moment in Blackpool tonight? He certainly creates headlines, just perhaps not always the one PDC’s Head of Media Dave Allen would want! You might have seen a backstage stage interview where he said ‘He is the world champion but still living in the shadow of Luke Littler”. Nothing like a bit of needle to add some spice into this match!
World Matchplay Darts 2024: Daring Dimi
Whether it was a back-handed compliment or genuine trash talk he got us all drooling at the prospect of a new rivalry between the players. He told me this week on a little jolly to the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, there was no ill intention behind his remark and that he was just expressing ‘what people thought’.
He actually followed it up with that he is feeling brilliant and this season in particular is focusing on him only. Needless to say, Dimi is in fighting spirits. This game intrigues me and I can’t be any more excited about it. But to bet against Luke Humphries at this point, I can’t do it. Sorry, Dimi!
Polly’s Matchplay Picks: Ross Smith and Luke Humphries both to win @ 1.67 with kwiff
By Polly James
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