2026 WM Darts R1 Preview & Tips

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2026 World Matchplay Darts R1 preview and tips. James has already posted his outright betting preview, click here for that.

Josh Rock vs. Luke Woodhouse

Last year’s semi-finalist, Josh Rock, is the 1.73 favourite but he has drawn one of the form players from the Pro Tour qualifiers.

Rock has won six of his last ten matches but his form has been inconsistent with half seeing sub 92 averages and just one ton plus. Since the end of the Premier League two months ago, Rock has only played fourteen matches and won eight. This time last year, Rock was playing a lot better than he is now, hitting a lot of big averages, and he carried that into the Matchplay.

Woodhouse, on the other hand, has been winning a Players Championship and a Euro Tour title. His most recent form sees eight wins from ten matches but he also has had five sub 92 averages. He is just a bit more confident and able to win with his B game.

H2H

Their H2H record is 5-2 to Rock and he has been the better player, but Woodhouse is improving whereas Rock seems to have reached a level. Rock is the more experienced in big TV matches and Woodhouse has played two and lost two in Blackpool.

Woodhouse lost 8-10 to Aspinall in 2024, and 5-10 to Anderson last year, but he is a more confident player now and if he gets Rock on one of his off days, he has a decent chance to get his first Matchplay win. He is the 2.20 outsider and he is being backed, but I can’t say that 2.20 is great value.

Right now both are playing at a similar level, but Woodhouse is the happier player. The market has been moving towards Woodhouse and I can see why, but neither player looks a standout pick. Perhaps that suggests a bit of a grind and a close match?

2026 World Matchplay Darts R1 Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 1.83 with Ladbrokes

Stephen Bunting vs. Niels Zonneveld

Bunting has lost six of his last ten matches but is playing a lot better than that sounds. He is just a bit low on confidence and frustrated. His record here is not great. Two quarter finals, including last year, but also seven first round exits.

Bunting does carry a bit of timber and he may be one of the players that the hot conditions don’t help. He has struggled on the Euro Tour at times, which has also been played in some very hot conditions recently.

Zonneveld is a recent first-time dad, but the Nappy Factor doesn’t seem to apply to him. He too has lost six of his last ten matches but he is playing as badly as that sounds. Five sub 90 averages is a worry, but his good stuff has been very good, hitting five 96 averages. Inconsistency on a stick.

Their H2H record is 5-0 to Bunting and he had a 6-5 win a month ago. In 2026, Bunting is 2-0, both on the Euro Tour.

Bunting is the 1.54 favourite, Zonneveld 2.63. Zonneveld is making his debut, but most of Bunting’s experience here is of losing matches.

I expect Bunting to win, but at the odds and with his tournament record he makes no appeal at the odds. It is a no bet.

2026 World Matchplay Darts R1 Tip: No bet

Luke Littler vs. Niko Springer

If this was best of eleven leg match on the Euro Tour, I would give Springer a puncher’s chance, but away from home, in a long format, Springer is up against it. He can pull some big averages out of the blue, but he is very inexperienced at this sort of level, is making his debut and has drawn the defending champion and world number 1. Springer has lost five of his last ten matches and seven of his last ten in TV Majors.

Littler is the 1.10 favourite, Springer 8.50. Littler beat Ryan Searle 10-2 in last year’s first round and he could do something similar here.

2026 World Matchplay Darts R1 Tip: 1 point under 15.5 legs @ 1.80 with Boylesports

Nathan Aspinall vs. Joe Cullen

Darts has taken a back seat in Aspinall’s world in 2026. He gets married after this tournament is over and he has said that only after his honeymoon is over, will he go back to full time darts. Hardly great preparation for a big Major, and one that he has won in the past. Aspinall has played some impressive darts when he has turned up, but his consistency just isn’t there.

Joe Cullen, on the other hand, has put more of shift in and he is on the comeback trail. It wasn’t so long ago that his 12-month average was well outside the top 50, but it is now ranked 32nd. Cullen has won five of his last ten matches but has hit seven 96 plus averages.

Aspinall has won four of his seven first round matches here, Cullen six from eleven. Their H2H record is 11-6 to Aspinall and he has won their last seven matches, including a 17-9 win the 2023 semi-final.

This is another tough call. Aspinall isn’t match fit, so to speak, but he has a very good H2H record vs. Cullen. The Asp is the 1.58 favourite, Cullen 2.63. I was tempted by a handicap bet on Cullen, but it is just too hard to call. No bet.

2026 World Matchplay Darts R1 Tip: No bet

-JamesPunt