LUKE ‘The Nuke’ Littler and Michael van Gerwen now know who lies in wait for whichever one of them wins tonight’s blockbuster battle in round one of the Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The 2024 Premier League rivals with be squaring up for the right to face Joe Cullen in round two on Wednesday night.
Bradford-born Cullen, a semi-finalist in this tournament last year, booked his ticket with a comfortable 10-4 success against Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan yesterday.
Warrington 17-year-old Littler, who has won four of his nine meetings against Dutchman Van Gerwen this year, has revealed what he was doing when he found out who he had been paired with for his debut match in the World Matchplay.
His heart was already racing from being driven around Silverstone by Formula One star Lando Norris.
And then it quickly rose a notch when he found out he had been drawn against the previous three-times winner as the first hurdle to his attempts to win a sixth title this year.
Littler was enjoying the rewards of his rapid rise to global stardom when he participated in a hot lap with Norris ahead of the British Grand Prix.
“I was at Silverstone when I found out that I had drawn Michael (van Gerwen),” he said. “I did a hot lap with Lando Norris, then scrolled through the draw.
“I just thought ‘I best get on the practice board’ so that’s what I’ve done this week!
“Obviously I could have had a better draw. But playing Michael it’s a big first round for both of us.
“I’m on debut just like I was in the Premier League so I just want to enjoy it and see what happens.”
Littler and Van Gerwen are due on stage at 9.15pm in the penultimate game of the first round.
Betfred World Matchplay first round fixtures for tonight, Monday, July 15 (live on Sky Sports):
Damon Heta v Ryan Searle, 7.15pm
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson, 8.15pm
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler, 9.15pm
Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse, 10.15pm
Results so far, Betfred World Matchplay first round:
Gerwyn Price 10-4 Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton 10-7 Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Humphries 10-4 Ricardo Pietreczko
Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Luke Woodhouse
Ross Smith 10-4 Josh Rock
James Wade 10-5 Danny Noppert
Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-6 Martin Schindler (Van den Bergh hits a nine-dart finish)
Stephen Bunting 12-10 Ryan Joyce
Rob Cross 13-12 Gian van Veen
Joe Cullen 10-4 Brendan Dolan
Andrew Gilding 10-5 Peter Wright
Krzysztof Ratajski 10-2 Dave Chisnall
2024 Betfred World Matchplay second-round schedule, times to be confirmed:
Tuesday, July 16, from 7pm:
Gerwyn Price v Ross Smith
Jonny Clayton v D. Van den Bergh
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall v James Wade
Wednesday, July 17, from 7pm:
Krzysztof Ratajski v Andrew Gilding
Michael Smith or Gary Anderson v Chris Dobey or Ritchie Edhouse
Luke Littler or Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen
Rob Cross v Damon Heta or Ryan Searle
2024 Betfred World Matchplay quarter-finals schedule:
Thursday, July 18, from 8pm: two matches
Friday, July 19, from 8pm: two matches
2024 Betfred World Matchplay semi-finals schedule:
Saturday, July 20, from 8pm: two matches
2024 Betfred World Matchplay final schedule:
Sunday, July 21, from 8pm: The Final
*Schedule subject to change
What’s the format for Betfred World Matchplay 2024?
First Round - Best of 19 legs (first to 10)
Second Round - Best of 21 legs (first to 11)
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs (first to 16)
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs (first to 17)
Final - Best of 35 legs (first to 18)
*Games may continue beyond the stated legs because a player must win by two clear legs
2024 Betfred World Matchplay prize fund:
Winner - £200,000
Runner-Up - £100,000
Semi-Finalists - £50,000
Quarter-Finalists - £30,000
Second Round Losers - £15,000
First Round Losers - £10,000
Total - £800,000
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