1994 World Matchplay

The 1994 Proton Cars World Matchplay was the inaugural World Matchplay darts tournament organised by the World Darts Council (WDC, which became the Professional Darts Corporation in 1997).

American Larry Butler was a surprise winner of the tournament and defeated World Champion Dennis Priestley in the final by 16 legs to 12 having beaten Steve Raw, Jerry Umberger, Jocky Wilson and Shayne Burgess on his way to the final. 1992 World Champion Phil Taylor lost to 1988 World Champion Bob Anderson in the second round and 1993 World Champion John Lowe was surprisingly defeated 3-8 by Gerald Verrier in the first round.

The tournament differed from the World Championship by having a matchplay format of legs, rather than sets (which consist of best of 5 legs). Because the player who throws first in a leg has an advantage over his opponent, the format insisted on a player having to win by two clear legs to claim the match. This resulted in the second round clash between Keith Deller and Jim Watkins actually running longer than the final. Watkins eventually won 18-16 in a match that should have been the first to eight legs.

It was the second tournament to be organised by the WDC since 16 players separated from the British Darts Organisation the previous year. The tournament was broadcast on satellite channel Sky Sports in its entirety. Commentator Sid Waddell switched from BBC television and made his Sky debut at this event.

Round One

Phil Taylor 8 - 2 Tom Kirby
Bob Anderson 8 - 4 Mick Manning
Shayne Burgess 9 - 7 Sean Downs
Dennis Smith 8 - 2 Davy Kelly
Jocky Wilson 8 - 3 Peter Evison
Alan Warriner 6 - 8 Richie Gardener
Larry Butler 8 - 2 Steve Raw
Jerry Umberger 5 - 8 Cliff Lazarenko
Rod Harrington 5 - 8 Kevin Burrows
Paul Lim 8 - 4 Tony Payne
Jim Watkins 8 - 3 Steve Brown
Keith Dellar 8 - 6 Jim Widmayer
Jamie Harvey 8 - 2 Kevin Spiolek
Graeme Stoddart 8 - 2 Whit Whitley
Gerald Verrier 8 - 3 John Lowe
Dennis Priestley 8 - 3 Eric Bristow
Round Two

Taylor 9 - 11 Anderson
Burgess 8 - 4 Dennis Smith
Wilson 10 - 8 Warriner
Butler 8 - 2 Umberger
Harrington 8 - 4 Lim
Watkins 18 - 16 Deller
Harvey 8 - 3 Stoddart
Verrier 4 - 8 Priestley
Quarter Finals

Anderson 8 - 11 Burgess
Wilson 4 - 11 Butler
Harrington 11 - 7 Watkins
Harvey 4 - 11 Priestley
Semi Finals

Burgess 7 - 11 Butler
Harrington 7 - 11 Priestley

Final

Butler 16 - 12 Priestley
-wikipedia