The second round of the 2026 World Matchplay gets underway on Tuesday evening in Blackpool, and the evening immediately features two matches that could reshape the tournament: Luke Littler versus Nathan Aspinall, followed by Jonny Clayton versus Gary Anderson. After three days of first-round action, we’re entering a tougher part of the draw: the format is getting longer, the favourites are starting to face off, and the margin for error is becoming much narrower.
Timing is also key. Littler is in fine form following his opening session against Niko Springer, where he averaged 109.53. Anderson, for his part, has just reminded everyone that he is still capable of producing a top-class performance on the big stage. On Tuesday morning, the PDC re-positioned the Clayton v Anderson clash as one of the standout fixtures of this second round, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The schedule for the second round of the 2026 World Matchplay
According to the updated schedule from Sky Sports, Tuesday’s session begins at 7.00 pm UK time. The exact order of the matches may still change at the broadcaster’s discretion, but the four fixtures have been confirmed. In other words: we’re in for an evening of pure elimination, with four quarter-final spots up for grabs.
| Session | Fixtures |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 21 July, 7.00 pm UK | Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall; Josh Rock v Stephen Bunting; Michael van Gerwen v Dirk van Duijvenbode; Jonny Clayton v Gary Anderson |
| Wednesday 22 July, 7.00 pm UK | Cameron Menzies vs Ross Smith; Gerwyn Price vs Rob Cross; Gian van Veen vs Wessel Nijman; James Wade vs Ryan Searle |
The rest of the schedule is already set: quarter-finals on Thursday and Friday, semi-finals on Saturday, followed by the final on Sunday evening. Sunday’s programme will also feature the Women’s World Matchplay in the afternoon session.
Littler v Aspinall: an immediate test for the defending champion
For Littler, the first round confirmed two things: his scoring form is already there, and his status as defending champion hasn’t slowed his start to the tournament. But Aspinall is no run-of-the-mill second-round opponent. He knows Blackpool well, he has won this tournament before, and he beat Joe Cullen 10-5 to get himself into his stride.
That’s where the evening gets interesting. Littler doesn’t just need to be spectacular; he must withstand the pressure of a defending champion facing a player who thrives on tight matches. If Aspinall manages to disrupt the rhythm early on, the match could quickly become much more tense than Littler’s first-round fixture.
Anderson v Clayton: a clash of old hands with real stakes
The clash between Anderson and Clayton has a different feel to it. Anderson is coming off the back of a 10-2 victory over Ryan Joyce with an average of 109.96 , one of the standout performances in the tournament’s recent history. Clayton, for his part, beat Damon Heta 10,7, scoring several finishes of over 100. The PDC emphasises one simple point: Clayton is set to face one of his role models, but above all he wants to keep enjoyment as his driving force.
This is no minor distinction. Against Anderson, Clayton cannot simply wait for the standard to drop. He will need to dictate his own tempo, capitalise on average visits and keep his cool on his doubles. For Anderson, this is the first real test of his quality following his first-round masterclass. The score against Joyce tells us one thing, but his performance against Clayton will reveal much more.
Why this second-round match already carries so much weight
The draw lost Luke Humphries on Monday evening, knocked out by Cameron Menzies with a 170 finish. That doesn’t completely open up the tournament, but it inevitably shifts the psychological balance. The favourites still in the running know that Blackpool has already taken out a big name. In a week like this, there’s no room for error: a single poorly managed session and the draw opens up for someone else.
The editorial priority is therefore clear: to keep a close eye on Tuesday’s two headline matches without losing sight of the rest of the draw. Littler must prove that he really is the man in charge of the tournament. Anderson must prove that his 109.96 wasn’t just a one-off perfect night. And behind them, Rock, Bunting, Van Gerwen and Van Duijvenbode could also shake up the World Matchplay standings ahead of the quarter-finals.
