The draw for the WSDT Matchplay has been confirmed, and defending Champion Leonard Gates will begin the defence of his title at York Barbican against qualifier, James Richardson.
Gates, who defeated Jim McEwan in the final of the 2023 edition, faces a tough test against ‘Ruthless’ Richardson, a four-time PDC World Championship participant who came through a last-chance qualifier in Reading at the end of July.
Elsewhere, reigning WSDT World Champion John Henderson has been paired with 16-time Champion of the World, Phil Taylor in another blockbuster clash.
WSDT World number one and top seed Richie Howson, winner at the recent Champion of Champions, opens the tournament on the 4th October, and he will face ten-time World Champion, Trina Gulliver.
Meanwhile two-time WSDT World Champion Robert Thornton is first up in the evening session on opening night against three-time World Champion, John Part.
Former WSDT Masters winner David Cameron, who won through a qualifier to get to York, begins his campaign against fifth seed Kevin Painter, and three-time Lakeside World Champion Martin Adams faces Matt Clark, who qualified as the second-placed player in the Target Open Series Order of Merit.
The Order of Merit leader is Paul Hogan, and ‘Crocodile Dundee’ begins his quest for a maiden WSDT televised title with a rematch against four-time World Champion Lisa Ashton, who defeated Hogan 8-5 in the last 32 of the inaugural Matchplay in 2022.
Two of the invited players will lock horns in an intriguing clash, as 2022 WDF World Champion Neil Duff faces two-time BDO World Championship BDO World Championship semi-finalist, Chris Mason.
The tournament runs from October 4-5, and tickets are available here:
yorkbarbican.co.uk/whats-on/world-seniors-darts-tour-matchplay/
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Images: WSDT/Chris Sargeant
