1998 World Matchplay

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1998 World Matchplay
Tournament information
Dates27 July–1 August 1998
Venue Winter Gardens
Location Blackpool
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Organisation(s) PDC
FormatLegs
Prize fund £58,000
Winner's share£14,000
High checkout167 Flag of England.svg Alan Warriner
Champion(s)
Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington
«1997 1999»

The 1998 World Matchplay was a darts tournament held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The tournament ran from 27 July–1 August 1998, and was won by Rod Harrington.

Contents

A classic final between Harrington and Ronnie Baxter was characterised with deadly finishing from Baxter, who led the final for most of the way, and Harrington's stubbornness in clinging on and keeping the match neck-and-neck. However, Harrington eventually trailed 14–17 and was only 1 leg from defeat. Baxter had a championship dart at double 20 in the 33rd leg but missed. At 17-17, a moment of significant darting history occurred when Harrington took out 125 via treble 15 and two consecutive double 20s. The standard check out route on 80 with two darts in hand had been, up to this point, almost invariably treble 20 and double ten. From then on, it would become more common to see players attempt the Harrington route. With Baxter (who had looked likely to regain the lead) demoralised, Harrington maintained a clear lead throughout the next leg, and sealed the title on double five.

Phil Taylor was the reigning champion going into the tournament, but lost 10-13 to Baxter in the quarter finals. Taylor had led 9-5 and 10-8.

Prize money

The prize fund was £58,000. [1]

Position (no. of players)Prize money
(Total: £58,000)
Winner(1)£14,000
Runner-Up(1)£7,000
Semi-finalists(2)£3,500
Quarter-finalists(4)£2,000
Second round(8)£1,250
First round(16)£750

Seeds

There were eight seeds for the competition. [2]

  1. Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington
  2. Flag of England.svg Alan Warriner
  3. Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
  4. Flag of England.svg Peter Manley
  5. Flag of England.svg Peter Evison
  6. Flag of England.svg Dennis Priestley
  7. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part
  8. Flag of the United States.svg Steve Brown

Results

Players in bold denote match winners. [3] [4] [5]

First round (best of 15 legs)
26–27 July
Second round (best of 15 legs)
28 July
Quarter-finals (best of 25 legs)
29–30 July
Semi-finals (best of 25 legs)
31 July
Final (best of 35 legs)
1 August
               
1 Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington 92.048
Flag of England.svg Kevin Spiolek 86.794
1 Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington 91.328
Flag of the United States.svg Gary Mawson 86.736
  Flag of the United States.svg Gary Mawson 89.829
Flag of the United States.svg Paul Lim 88.327
1 Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington 92.0414
Flag of England.svg Bob Anderson 89.8812
8 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Brown 87.098
Flag of England.svg Dennis Smith 83.554
8 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Brown 93.964
Flag of England.svg Bob Anderson 92.138
  Flag of England.svg Bob Anderson 85.628
Flag of England.svg Cliff Lazarenko 81.752
1 Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington 92.8213
Flag of England.svg Keith Deller 82.6510
5 Flag of England.svg Peter Evison 95.644
Flag of England.svg Keith Deller 94.808
  Flag of England.svg Keith Deller 81.128
Flag of England.svg Mick Manning 90.216
  Flag of England.svg Mick Manning91.329
Flag of England.svg Reg Harding 89.707
Flag of England.svg Keith Deller 84.3613
4 Flag of England.svg Peter Manley 89.079
4 Flag of England.svg Peter Manley 91.028
Flag of England.svg Ritchie Gardner 83.735
4 Flag of England.svg Peter Manley 90.998
Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Harvey 92.166
  Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Harvey 87.158
Flag of England.svg Steve Raw 91.086
1 Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington 95.0419
Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 94.0817
2 Flag of England.svg Alan Warriner 92.468
Flag of England.svg Harry Robinson 78.002
2 Flag of England.svg Alan Warriner 93.697
Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton 88.959
  Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton 87.308
Flag of England.svg Shayne Burgess 87.064
  Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton 89.076
Flag of England.svg Chris Mason 94.2013
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part 87.185
Flag of England.svg Chris Mason 90.788
  Flag of England.svg Chris Mason 77.618
Flag of the United States.svg Gerald Verrier 68.193
  Flag of the United States.svg Gerald Verrier76.148
Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow 73.445
  Flag of England.svg Chris Mason 97.7411
Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 97.3813
6 Flag of England.svg Dennis Priestley 90.457
Flag of England.svg John Ferrell 83.349
  Flag of England.svg John Ferrell 87.725
Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 93.818
  Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 89.3414
Flag of England.svg Andy Jenkins 81.7512
Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 97.0513
3 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 99.4810
3 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 96.188
Flag of England.svg Graeme Stoddart 80.101
3 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor  8
Flag of England.svg Robbie Widdows  2
  Flag of England.svg Robbie Widdows 8
Flag of England.svg John Lowe  6

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References

  1. "1998 World Matchplay Player Prize Money". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  2. "World Matchplay 1998". Mastercaller. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  3. "1998 World Matchplay Results". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  4. "Results of World Matchplay 1998". Mastercaller. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. "World Matchplay 1998 – Bracket". Mastercaller. Retrieved 5 February 2024.