1994 World Matchplay Darts

The 1994 Proton Cars World Matchplay was the inaugural World Matchplay darts tournament organised by the World Darts Council (WDC, which became the Professional Darts Corporation in 1997).

American Larry Butler was a surprise winner of the tournament and defeated World Champion Dennis Priestley in the final by 16 legs to 12 having beaten Steve Raw, Jerry Umberger, Jocky Wilson and Shayne Burgess on his way to the final. 1992 World Champion Phil Taylor lost to 1988 World Champion Bob Anderson in the second round and 1993 World Champion John Lowe was surprisingly defeated 3-8 by Gerald Verrier in the first round.

The tournament differed from the World Championship by having a matchplay format of legs, rather than sets (which consist of best of 5 legs). Because the player who throws first in a leg has an advantage over his opponent, the format insisted on a player having to win by two clear legs to claim the match. This resulted in the second round clash between Keith Deller and Jim Watkins actually running longer than the final. Watkins eventually won 18-16 in a match that should have been the first to eight legs.

It was the second tournament to be organised by the WDC since 16 players separated from the British Darts Organisation the previous year. The tournament was broadcast on satellite channel Sky Sports in its entirety. Commentator Sid Waddell switched from BBC television and made his Sky debut at this event.

It was staged at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool which became the traditional home of the event.

Results

32TeamBracket-Compact | RD1=1st Round
best of 15 legs
RD2=2nd Round
best of 15 legs
RD3=Quarter Finals
best of 21 legs
RD4=Semi Finals
best of 21 legs
RD5=Final
best of 31 legs

score-width=25

RD1-seed01=
RD1-team01=flagicon|ENGPhil Taylor
RD1-score01=8
RD1-seed02=
RD1-team02=flagicon|USATom Kirby
RD1-score02=2

RD1-seed03=
RD1-team03=flagicon|ENGBob Anderson
RD1-score03=8
RD1-seed04=
RD1-team04=flagicon|ENGMick Manning
RD1-score04=4

RD1-seed05=
RD1-team05=flagicon|ENGShayne Burgess
RD1-score05=9*
RD1-seed06=
RD1-team06=flagicon|USASean Downs
RD1-score06=7

RD1-seed07=
RD1-team07=flagicon|ENGDennis Smith
RD1-score07=8
RD1-seed08=
RD1-team08=flagicon|USADavy Kelly
RD1-score08=2

RD1-seed09=
RD1-team09=flagicon|SCOJocky Wilson
RD1-score09=8
RD1-seed10=
RD1-team10=flagicon|ENGPeter Evison
RD1-score10=3

RD1-seed11=
RD1-team11=flagicon|ENGAlan Warriner
RD1-score11=6
RD1-seed12=
RD1-team12=flagicon|ENGRichie Gardner
RD1-score12=8

RD1-seed13=
RD1-team13=flagicon|USALarry Butler
RD1-score13=8
RD1-seed14=
RD1-team14=flagicon|ENGSteve Raw
RD1-score14=2

RD1-seed15=
RD1-team15=flagicon|USAJerry Umberger
RD1-score15=5
RD1-seed16=
RD1-team16=flagicon|ENGCliff Lazarenko
RD1-score16=8

RD1-seed17=
RD1-team17=flagicon|ENGRod Harrington
RD1-score17=5
RD1-seed18=
RD1-team18=flagicon|ENGKevin Burrows
RD1-score18=8

RD1-seed19=
RD1-team19=flagicon|USAPaul Lim
RD1-score19=8
RD1-seed20=
RD1-team20=flagicon|USATony Payne
RD1-score20=4

RD1-seed21=
RD1-team21=flagicon|USAJim Watkins
RD1-score21=8
RD1-seed22=
RD1-team22=flagicon|USASteve Brown
RD1-score22=3

RD1-seed23=
RD1-team23=flagicon|ENGKeith Deller
RD1-score23=8
RD1-seed24=
RD1-team24=flagicon|USAJim Widmayer
RD1-score24=6

RD1-seed25=
RD1-team25=flagicon|SCOJamie Harvey
RD1-score25=8
RD1-seed26=
RD1-team26=flagicon|ENGKevin Spiolek
RD1-score26=2

RD1-seed27=
RD1-team27=flagicon|ENGGraeme Stoddart
RD1-score27=8
RD1-seed28=
RD1-team28=flagicon|USAWhit Whitley
RD1-score28=2

RD1-seed29=
RD1-team29=flagicon|USAGerald Verrier
RD1-score29=8
RD1-seed30=
RD1-team30=flagicon|ENGJohn Lowe
RD1-score30=3

RD1-seed31=
RD1-team31=flagicon|ENGDennis Priestley
RD1-score31=8
RD1-seed32=
RD1-team32=flagicon|ENGEric Bristow
RD1-score32=3

RD2-seed01=
RD2-team01=flagicon|ENGTaylor
RD2-score01=9
RD2-seed02=
RD2-team02=flagicon|ENGAnderson
RD2-score02=11*

RD2-seed03=
RD2-team03=flagicon|ENGBurgess
RD2-score03=8
RD2-seed04=
RD2-team04=flagicon|ENGDennis Smith
RD2-score04=4

RD2-seed05=
RD2-team05=flagicon|SCOWilson
RD2-score05=10*
RD2-seed06=
RD2-team06=flagicon|ENGWarriner
RD2-score06=8

RD2-seed07=
RD2-team07=flagicon|USAButler
RD2-score07=8
RD2-seed08=
RD2-team08=flagicon|USAUmberger
RD2-score08=2

RD2-seed09=
RD2-team09=flagicon|ENGHarrington
RD2-score09=8
RD2-seed10=
RD2-team10=flagicon|USALim
RD2-score10=4

RD2-seed11=
RD2-team11=flagicon|USAWatkins
RD2-score11=18*
RD2-seed12=
RD2-team12=flagicon|ENGDeller
RD2-score12=16

RD2-seed13=
RD2-team13=flagicon|SCOHarvey
RD2-score13=8
RD2-seed14=
RD2-team14=flagicon|ENGStoddart
RD2-score14=3

RD2-seed15=
RD2-team15=flagicon|USAVerrier
RD2-score15=4
RD2-seed16=
RD2-team16=flagicon|ENGPriestley
RD2-score16=8

RD3-seed01=
RD3-team01=flagicon|ENGAnderson
RD3-score01=8
RD3-seed02=
RD3-team02=flagicon|ENGBurgess
RD3-score02=11

RD3-seed03=
RD3-team03=flagicon|SCOWilson
RD3-score03=4
RD3-seed04=
RD3-team04=flagicon|USAButler
RD3-score04=11

RD3-seed05=
RD3-team05=flagicon|ENGHarrington
RD3-score05=11
RD3-seed06=
RD3-team06=flagicon|USAWatkins
RD3-score06=7

RD3-seed07=
RD3-team07=flagicon|SCOHarvey
RD3-score07=4
RD3-seed08=
RD3-team08=flagicon|ENGPriestley
RD3-score08=11

RD4-seed01=
RD4-team01=flagicon|ENGBurgess
RD4-score01=7
RD4-seed02=
RD4-team02=flagicon|USAButler
RD4-score02=11

RD4-seed03=
RD4-team03=flagicon|ENGHarrington
RD4-score03=7
RD4-seed04=
RD4-team04=flagicon|ENGPriestley
RD4-score04=11

RD5-seed01=
RD5-team01=flagicon|USAButler
RD5-score01=16
RD5-seed02=
RD5-team02=flagicon|ENGPriestley
RD5-score02=12

Players must win by two clear legs. Match winners under tie-break rule indicated by asterisk.

ee also

*PDC World Matchplay Championship - history of event including previous winners.