last sixteen for the first time at his fourth attempt.
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins has dropped out of the World’s top
sixteen over recent months, leaving him to enter the
tournament as a non-seed.
He will face sixteenth seed Ian White in the opening
round, a match that he is more than capable of
winning on a stage that he loves
Jenkins is a two-time finalist in Blackpool and he was
the last man to defeat Phil Taylor in the tournament
back in 2007. With a record that speaks for itself
Jenkins must be perceived as a huge threat by his
potential opponents.
Michael Smith
Michael Smith has come of age over the last twelve
months, indeed the St Helens-based youngster
defeated Phil Taylor in the second round of this year’s
World Championships.
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He will take on Justin Pipe in the opening round as he
looks to register his first victory on the Blackpool stage
at the third time of asking and he must be heading
into the match in confident mood having developed
into an excellent TV player.
Smith’s record on the floor speaks for itself and there
can be no doubt that he has the ability to go deep
into this year’s Matchplay if he can find top form.
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Championship final as well as multiple European
Tour appearances. There is no doubt that TV new
boy Gilding is still one to watch.
Darren Webster
Webster last qualified for the World Matchplay in
2005, when he lost out in the opening round and you
would be forgiven for thinking his best darts were
behind him. He is a former World Championship
quarter-finalist (2007), although his TV appearances
in recent years have been extremely limited.
Webster did return to the World Championships this
year and has regained his floor form of ten years
ago, but an opening round clash with Phil Taylor
means that while he might well impress, he is
unlikely to progress.
Andrew Gilding
Gilding is the least experienced of the qualifiers,
with two appearances in the UK Open being his only
experience of PDC Majors, but this may work to his
advantage when he faces Adrian Lewis in the opening
round, as the pair have never met in competition.
In truth it is unlikely that Gilding will
advance beyond the first round, but
his floor form this year has been
excellent and has included
an appearance in
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Players
I welcome your thoughts on this years World Matchplay...
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