1996 World Matchplay

The 1996 Webster's World Matchplay was the third time the World Matchplay darts tournament had been held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool between 28 July–3 August 1996.

1996 Webster's World Matchplay
Tournament information
Dates	28 July–3 August 1996
Venue	Winter Gardens
Location	Blackpool
Country	England
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Legs
Prize fund	£48,000
Winner's share	£12,000
Champion(s)
Peter Evison
«1995 1997»

Phil Taylor was the defending champion, but got knocked out by eventual champion Peter Evison by a convincing scoreline of 8–1 in the second round, with Evison averaging over 100. Evison would go onto to record another ton-plus average in the final against Dennis Priestley (who appeared in his third consecutive - and final - World Matchplay final).

Prize money

The prize fund was £48,000.^[1]

Position (no. of players)		Prize money (Total: £48,000)
Winner	(1)	£12,000
Runner-Up	(1)	£7,000
Third place	(1)	£3,750
Fourth place	(1)	£3,250
Quarter-finalists	(4)	£1,650
Second round	(8)	£925
First round	(16)	£500

Seeds

There were eight seeds for the competition.^[2]

1. Phil Taylor
2. Dennis Priestley
3. Alan Warriner
4. Jamie Harvey
5. John Lowe
6. Bob Anderson
7. Rod Harrington
8. Keith Deller

Results

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

Preliminary round

(best of 9 legs, but need a 2 leg difference.)

Player	Score	Player
Mick Manning	5–0	Garry Haynes
Peter Manley	5–2	Paul Cook
Jerry Umberger	8–6	Darren Peetoom
Ritchie Gardner	5–2	Mark Sherwood
Phil Gilman	5–3	Frans Harmsen
Bruce Robbins	5–2	John Moore
Gary Mawson	5–1	Joe Holmes
Tom Kirby	7–5	Nigel Justice

Last 32

	First round (best of 15 legs) 29–30 July					Second round (best of 15 legs) 31 July					Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 1 August					Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 2 August					Final (best of 31 legs) 3 August
	1	Phil Taylor 89.07	8
	Q	Tom Kirby 83.34	6
						1	Phil Taylor 94.65	1
							Peter Evison 103.77	8
		Peter Evison 88.70	8
		Larry Butler 81.24	3
												Peter Evison 90.54	11
												Sean Downs 78.54	3
	8	Keith Deller 72.24	7
		Sean Downs 74.25	9
							Sean Downs 77.76	8
							Cliff Lazarenko 77.40	6
		Cliff Lazarenko 84.30	8
		Gerald Verrier 81.33	2
																	Peter Evison 89.16	13
																4	Jamie Harvey 84.84	9
	5	John Lowe 98.97	8
		Shayne Burgess 93.15	6
						5	John Lowe 89.97	5
							Dennis Smith 85.23	8
		Dennis Smith 81.69	8
		Eric Bristow 76.65	4
												Dennis Smith 81.12	6
											4	Jamie Harvey 86.07	11
	4	Jamie Harvey 80.91	8
	Q	Phil Gilman 83.10	5
						4	Jamie Harvey 84.84	8
						Q	Peter Manley 81.30	3
		Dave Kelly 82.89	2
	Q	Peter Manley 84.48	8
																						Peter Evison 100.51	16
																					2	Dennis Priestley 96.67	14
	2	Dennis Priestley 79.17	8
	Q	Gary Mawson 77.49	4
						2	Dennis Priestley 92.61	8
						Q	Jerry Umberger 83.37	4
	Q	Jerry Umberger 74.91	8
		Steve Raw 76.98	5
											2	Dennis Priestley 92.46	15
											7	Rod Harrington 91.08	13
	7	Rod Harrington 87.15	8
	Q	Bruce Robbins 76.41	2
						7	Rod Harrington 92.25	8
						Q	Mick Manning 85.02	3
	Q	Mick Manning 90.15	8
		Paul Bratherton 75.24	4
																2	Dennis Priestley 91.92	13
																6	Bob Anderson 87.30	11
	6	Bob Anderson 91.53	8
		Steve Brown 81.30	3
						6	Bob Anderson 87.66	8
							Paul Lim 85.17	4
		Paul Lim 84.90	10
		Kevin Spiolek 83.61	8
											6	Bob Anderson 91.62	11
											3	Alan Warriner 87.90	8
	3	Alan Warriner 91.17	10
		Chris Mason 88.20	8
						3	Alan Warriner 92.01	8
							Graeme Stoddart 84.69	3
		Graeme Stoddart 79.62	8
	Q	Ritchie Gardner 77.58	2

Third place playoff (best of 21 legs) (4) Jamie Harvey 10–11 (6) Bob Anderson