World Matchplay Darts 2026: Pundits pick their favourites, dark horses as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen go for glory

The World Matchplay Darts 2026 is just around the corner and Luke Littler is looking to become the first player to go back-to-back in a decade.

If Littler completes the feat, he will be the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2016 to retain his title at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

However, he will have the likes of Luke Humphries, Gary Anderson, James Wade, Nathan Aspinall, Gian van Veen, and Van Gerwen himself right in the battle as 32 of the world's best do battle.

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With that in mind, we tasked our Sky Sports Darts pundits with picking their winner, their dark horse, and explaining just why it is so hard to defend your win on the seaside...

Emma Paton's predictions...

Who will win the World Matchplay?

I'm going to go against the tournament favourite and back Luke Humphries!

Winner in 2024, Cool Hand went out in the first round last year and he won't want to let that happen again…he'll be out for revenge this time around!

The world No 2 has had a good 2026 but without any big trophies to show for it. His last TV title came at last year's Premier League and he will be absolutely desperate to get his hands on some silverware and stop the Luke Littler major-winning-train which seems to be in full flow this year!

Who is your dark horse?

Does Wessel Nijman count as a dark horse!?

The Dutchman has been in formidable form in 2026 - six Players Championships titles, two on the European Tour as well - so is now the time he strings it all together on a big TV stage?

Nijman faces Dave Chisnall in the first round who only just qualified, so I think he'll be pretty happy with that draw and confident he can have a good run!

Let's see if he can turn his ProTour dominance into Matchplay glory.

Why is it so hard to go back-to-back at the Matchplay?

Well no-one has done it in a decade, since Michael van Gerwen in 2015/16 so that shows just how tough it is.

I think the first reason is because of how stacked the field is - the top 16 in the world plus the top 16 from the Pro Tour Order of Merit means really there is no easy draw!

The format also lends itself to swings in momentum - we saw this last year with Littler being repeatedly five legs down and still managing to find a burst and come back to win!

And I think it's a real test of resilience, the champion needs to win five matches with these going up in format from best of 19 to best of 35 - so weaknesses will definitely be exposed along the way!

Mark Webster's predictions...

Who will win the World Matchplay?

Littler to win the Matchplay. He's been on fire this year and the fact that he's driven by these records he's breaking - he wants to win every tournament so I think that will get him over the line.

Who is your dark horse?

My dark horse is Rob Cross because he's had a battle to get in. He's had a different sort of pressure coming in which will make him feel a little more relaxed.

I think he will have a good tournament. He has had to dig in deep because he's had some tough times. He is a former champion so he's always going to be a threat.

Why is it so hard to go back-to-back at the Matchplay?

It is hard to go back-to-back at the Matchplay because of the format.

Even though Luke Littler recovered from going 7-3 down and 5-0 on a couple of occasions last year, you generally don't get away with that leg format.

It can lend itself to a dodgy spell so I think that's what makes it difficult. Littler did it on a few occasions last year but it's a tough tournament to defend.

Abi Davies' predictions...

Who will win the World Matchplay?

Luke Littler will be incredibly tough to beat, he loves this format but with Wessel Nijman's Pro Tour form in 2026, surely it has to all click and come together for him on the big TV stages sooner rather than later.

Eight titles this year, including two on the Euro Tour... I know he's not been past the last 16 in a major but I fancy him in Blackpool!

Who is your dark horse?

The draw hasn't done me any favours here because I was keen to back Krzysztof Ratajski. He's been his usual reliable, consistent self in recent weeks and beat Gian van Veen on his way to a third European Tour title last weekend. However, with a potential second-round meeting against Wessel, I'm instead going with Luke Woodhouse. Having finally shed the tag of being the highest-ranked player without a PDC title, he's playing with renewed confidence and really thriving.

He is looking more and more assured in big pressurised situations and could cause Josh Rock a few problems in the opening round.

Why is it so hard to go back-to-back at the Matchplay?

The strength in depth in the field makes it incredibly difficult. The top 16 players in the world against the 16 form players on the Pro Tour rankings. It's what makes the event so captivating, intriguing and thrilling to watch.

Polly James' predictions

Who will win the World Matchplay?

Call me boring but I'm going back-to-back victories for the Nuke.

Who is your dark horse?

Andrew Gilding, just because we had such a laugh last year with him. He has awkward pace, but superb finishing, and the kind of player top seeds hate drawing. If he beats Michael van Gerwen in the first round, and he has pedigree in beating Van Gerwen in huge games, I'll back Goldfinger to win.

Why is it so hard to go back-to-back at the Matchplay?

The best players in the world are there. The standard is exceptionally high and simply the modern field is deeper than ever. Luke has his work cut out, but he makes the impossible possible!

When is the World Matchplay live on Sky Sports?

The World Matchplay commences on Saturday, July 18 and ends on Sunday, July 26.

All nine days of the event will be shown live on Sky Sports, with coverage of the opening day commencing on Sky Sports+ at 7pm Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW

(c) Sky Sports 2026: World Matchplay Darts 2026: Pundits pick their favourites, dark horses as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen go for glory