The 2026 World Matchplay of Darts gets underway this weekend, and things are set to get wild right from the jump. Forget easing into the tournament, because there's a serious field of non-seeds looking to shake things up, and early predictions are already hinting at some absolutely thrilling matches. Word is, up to six seeded players could be heading home early, and honestly, we're here for the drama!
Who's Feeling the Heat Early? Rock, Bunting, and Littler Face Tough Openers
First up, Josh Rock, seeded 8th, is squaring off against Luke Woodhouse, and this one could be tighter than you think. Look, 2025 was Rock's year, right? That semifinal run at Blackpool was clutch. But this year? Not quite as consistent, despite hitting a UK Open semifinal and a Masters quarterfinal. He struggled in his Premier League debut, and you can tell it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. Woodhouse, though, is on fire, picking up two titles this year. He's a tough first-round opponent, no doubt. The prediction is Rock takes it 10-8, but Woodhouse is gonna put up a fight. Rock better come out strong or he'll be feeling the pressure. Then we've got Stephen Bunting (9th seed) against Niels Zonneveld. Bunting is a dark horse favorite to make a deep run, and he's been trending up big time recently after an inconsistent 18 months. Zonneveld can absolutely beat the best on his day, and he started 2026 hot. But he hasn't been as sharp lately. Momentum is squarely with Bunting here, who's predicted to win 10-5, but if Zonneveld plays mistake-free, he's proven he can knock off Premier League-level talent. This is no cakewalk for Bunting.The Big Guns Come Out: Littler and Aspinall Set to Clash
Of course, all eyes will be on Luke Littler, the #1 seed, as he faces Niko Springer. Littler is an absolute favorite to win the whole darn thing, having won every major since last fall's European Championship loss. Springer is a tough draw for a non-seed, making his Matchplay debut. He can be as good as Littler when he's on his 'A' game, but we haven't seen that consistently on the big stage yet. Could this be his moment? Maybe, but the longer Matchplay format gives Littler a huge edge, and he's predicted to win 10-6. You just gotta watch Littler play, he's electric. Finally, Nathan Aspinall (16th seed) takes on Joe Cullen. Aspinall's had a weird year, crushing it on the Pro Tour but not making much noise in the majors. Missing out on the Premier League this year, after being in it for years, might be messing with his head a bit. He's played fewer Pro Tour events, but snagged a Euro Tour title. Cullen? He's a total wild card. You never know what you're gonna get, but he's always competitive. Aspinall is predicted to win 10-7, but don't count out Cullen pulling something unexpected out of his hat. The World Matchplay of Darts kicks off with some incredible first-round matchups this weekend. If these predictions hold, we'll see some high-stakes battles, but the real question is how many of these seeds can actually survive! Get ready for some must-watch darts!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.