Sky Sports reporter and Darts enthusiast Polly James joins forces with kwiff to preview The World Matchplay Darts 2024, with daily in-depth previews of  Sunday’s double session from The Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

World Matchplay Darts 2024: Bouncing Blackpool

An earlier than usual start for todays bumper double session that is teeming with huge names and former winners in Blackpool. Today will see former champions Rob Cross, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Peter Wright and James Wade take to Winter Gardens stage. The atmosphere will be bubbling on the day that England take on Spain in the Euro 2024 final, especially now the PDC have confirmed fans can wear England football shirts.

To start the afternoon is a coin toss which should be a proper belter. Both Ross Smith and Josh Rock have won a title this year and you feel both are ready to change gear to up the pace and skill. If its going to be England’s day on the pitch I’ll go with Ross Smith to nick it. Ross did get the better of Josh on a Euro Tour not to long ago, perhaps the perfect catalyst to spur him on for another victory or will it be sweet revenge for the young northern Irish star.

Danny Noppert v James Wade take to oche next in what will be Wade’s 19th successive World Matchplay which I’m sure he want to kick off with a win. The 2007 champion scraped into this years filed and although has enormous pedigree in Blackpool, I think a cool and composed Danny Noppert will command the game and take the win to ruin the party.

Belgium’s number one and Germany’s number one are next. I just love these guys. Dimitri Van den Bergh v Martin Schindler is going be my must watch of the afternoon. Dimi almost sent me into labour two years ago when he booked his place in the semi-final. You might remember the piercing scream into my microphone?

I think given Dimi’s newfound mentality of late and the fact he knows how to win the World Matchplay and run deep on other occasions he will just about get the win in a tight battle. it will be super close though- Martin has been a threat over the last year but more so now since he won his maiden PDC title in a European Tour event earlier this year proving what he can do on a big stage and on telly. It’s hard to write him off.

Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce in an all English affair with a Winter Gardens crowd braced ready for England in the Euro final. This game is going to be loud and raucous if anything else. The fan favourite and crowd pleaser, Bunting is my pick here and I have a feeling we will see him throw some pheromonal darts, after all he is fresh from that Euro tour where he chalked a 117.12 average last month.

Rob Cross v Gian van Veen in all respect I believe will be an easy shift for Rob to wrap up and get comfy in time for the nig match. Cross will be looking to turn the clock back and win the tournament for a second time after he picked up the coveted Phil Taylor trophy back in 2019.

Joe Cullen wasn’t going to miss the England game for anyone, was he? Thank God the PDC pushed timings back to accommodate the final for our darting football fans. I fear if England win though, that will be the only thing Joe is celebrating tomorrow. He isn’t in the most spectacular of form and he knows it.

Brendan Dolan won his 10th career PDC title back in May and is a threat to anyone on a big a stage. The last time they met was a while back on a Pro Tour in October 2023 where it was demolition job for the Rockstar, maybe he can reap some confidence from that distant memory but I my pick will be a Dolan win tonight.

The 2021 winner Peter Wright will renew his rivalry with former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding in a game where I feel we can’t be certain of an outcome until they start playing. Its a coin toss for me because Peter has had a poor start the year by any standard but can’t seem to write off a World Champion or what he is capable of.

Dave Chisnall v Krzysztof Ratajski will headline Sunday and will be hoping to wrap this game up before the whistle blows over in Berlin. Whether many eyes will be on this or not, it will be another tasty battle where Dave will be looking to finally bag one of darts biggest prizes- a PDC TV Major title!

Will Blackpool be the one? Chissy has found Ratajski a tricky customer to bypass in recent years but I think due to Dave’s recent form this year after securing his first Pro Tour title of the 2024 back in March before claiming his seventh European Tour last month, he will glide past the Polish Eagle in style and take an empathic win in front of his adoring fans.

World Matchplay Darts 2024: Day 2 Tips

Rob Cross, Danny Noppert, Stephen Bunting and Dave Chisnall all to win @ 4.35 with kwiff