Michael van Gerwen meets his old friend and rival in round one (Picture: Getty Images)

Dutch legends Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld meet in the opening round of the World Matchplay, in one of a string of standout ties in Blackpool.

Five-time world champion Barney is still competing at 58 years old and remains hopeful that he can win his first Matchplay title, although he faces a man 22 years his junior who has won it three times.

One of the highlights of the darts calendar runs from July 19-27 this year at the Winter Gardens, with the winner leaving Blackpool with a £200,000 top prize.

The Matchplay sees the top 16 in the world rankings drawn against the top 16 on the PDC’s Pro Tour Order of Merit, so it is a field boasting quality and form.

As ever there will be plenty of attention on Luke Littler, with the Nuke taking on Ryan Searle in his first round match.

The world champion is playing in the Matchplay for only the second time and is looking to pick up his first win in the famous old tournament.

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are contenders for the title (Picture: Getty Images)

There are attractive ties throughout the draw, with other standouts including James Wade playing Joe Cullen, Ross Smith taking on Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price meeting Daryl Gurney.

2025 PDC World Matchplay draw

(1) Luke Humphries v Gian van Veen

(16) Danny Noppert v Cameron Menzies

(8) Nathan Aspinall v Wessel Nijman

(9) James Wade v Joe Cullen

(4) Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce

(13) Gary Anderson v Luke Woodhouse

(5) Jonny Clayton v Martin Schindler

(12) Dave Chisnall v Mike De Decker

Luke Humphries is the defending champion in Blackpool (Picture: Getty Images)

(2) Luke Littler v Ryan Searle

(15) Peter Wright v Jermaine Wattimena

(7) Damon Heta v Andrew Gilding

(10) Rob Cross v Dirk van Duijvenbode

(3) Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld

(14) Ross Smith v Josh Rock

(6) Chris Dobey v Ricardo Pietreczko

(11) Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney

The Women’s World Matchplay is also played on the final Sunday of the tournament, July 27.

The event features eight players coming in at the quarter-final stage as Beau Greaves plays Kirsi Viinkainen, Lisa Ashton meets Robyn Byrne, Noa-Lynn van Leuven takes on Lorraine Winstanley and Fallon Sherrock faces Gemma Hayter.

Greaves lifted the trophy last year, beating Sherrock in the final.