Belgium’s number one and Germany’s number one square off on Sunday afternoon, as Dimitri Van den Bergh meets Martin Schindler.

Having lifted the World Matchplay trophy in 2020 before finishing as runner-up the following year, Van den Bergh will be bidding for more glory at the Winter Gardens. However, ‘The Dream Maker’s’ opening match of the competition does have a bit of a coin toss feel about it.

After defeating Gerwyn Price in April’s International Darts Open, Martin Schindler is threatening a breakout year. The fact ‘The Wall’s 95.26 average is the 15th highest across the full PDC circuit across the last 12 months is further proof of his progress.

With a tight tungsten tussle anticipated, backing Schindler to hit the most 180s looks like the smarter selection. The German ace is not exactly renowned for being a prolific maximum hitter but he has been more reliable than Van den Bergh on the 180 front over the last year of action, albeit marginally so.

What’s more, the Belgian does have a habit of dropping down to treble 19. Thus, siding with Schindler to outmax ‘the Dream Maker’ makes plenty of sense in a game that could well go the distance.

Rob Cross will be looking to turn the clock back and win the World Matchplay for a second time in Blackpool. ‘Voltage’ emerged from the Winter Gardens with the trophy in 2019 and he will be feeling quietly confident about repeating the feat this summer.

The world number four has averaged a colossal 97.21 over the last 12 months, a tally topped by only four other players. Cross collected his second PDC European Tour title back in May by roaring back to defeat reigning world champion Luke Humphries 8-6. ‘Voltage’ has since kept the feelgood factor flowing by winning the US Darts Masters as well as reaching the final of both the Nordic and Poland Darts Masters.

Of course, Cross will have to guard against complacency in his opening clash with Gian van Veen, with whom he has an inferior head-to-head record against, though he did win the one and only meeting between the duo this calendar year so far. Cross is clearly on an upward trajectory and looks well-placed to edge his way through to the next round.

Stephen Bunting will be hoping to feed off the backing of a raucous Blackpool crowd when he begins his World Matchplay campaign against Ryan Joyce on Sunday afternoon. ‘The Bullet’ has become a massive fan favourite through his comical antics on social media but his current form could make him a real force to be reckoned with at the Winter Gardens.

The Scouser won his maiden PDC major earlier this year, defeating Michael van Gerwen 11-7 to be crowned the 2024 Masters champion. That success capped off a string of superb performances in the lead-up to the event, and Bunting is showing no signs of slowing down.

Bunting is rubbing shoulders with the PDC’s elite in terms of his average score over the last 12 months, with only six other players boasting a better tally than the Liverpudlians’ 96.66. On top of this, Bunting is housed in the top five for 180’ scored (526) during that period.

Thus, ‘The Bullet’ will attack the World Matchplay with confidence and he should successfully come through his round one tie with Ryan Joyce, who he defeated by three sets to nil at the 2024 World Darts Championships.

Dave Chisnall has enjoyed a trophy-laden career on the PDC circuit but he has never managed to bag one of the sport’s biggest prizes. ‘Chizzy’ will be looking to finally break that door down in Blackpool and his first task will be to get past Krzysztof Ratajski.

Chisnall has enjoyed a strong first half of 2024, securing his first Pro Tour title of the year back in March before claiming his seventh European Tour title thanks to an 8-6 victory against Ross Smith at the tail end of last month. As such, ‘Chizzy’ is currently ranked number seven in the world so he should arrive at the Winter Gardens in a confident mood.

The Morecambe-based arrowsmith is throwing some impressive darts at the moment, averaging a sizeable 96.03 over the last year, while he also sits inside the top 14 for 180’s scored (418) during the same time span.

Given that Chisnall has found Polish number one Ratajski a difficult opponent to bypass in recent years, backing ’Chizzy’ to hit the most 180s in this match holds much more appeal. The Polish Eagle is not a prolific maximum hitter – he ranks 111th for 180s scored (175) over the last 12 months.