1997 World Matchplay

The 1997 Webster's World Matchplay was the fourth time the World Matchplay darts tournament had been held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool from 28 July to 2 August 1997.

1997 Webster's World Matchplay
Tournament information
Dates	28 July–2 August 1997
Venue	Winter Gardens
Location	Blackpool
Country	England
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Legs
Prize fund	£46,000
Winner's share	£12,000
High checkout	164 Phil Taylor
Champion(s)
Phil Taylor
«1996 1998»

Two Preliminary round ties were decided even before the players could even reach the oche, with the USA's Larry Butler and Holland's Raymond Barneveld being disqualified for failing to arrive at the venue in enough time to play their rivals, allowing Dean Allsop and Mick Manning an easy passage to the first round.

This was brewery Samuel Webster's third and final year as tournament sponsor. The tournament was won by Phil Taylor.

Prize money

The prize fund was £46,000.^[1]

Position (no. of players)		Prize money (Total: £46,000)
Winner	(1)	£12,000
Runner-Up	(1)	£6,000
Third place	(1)	£3,250
Fourth place	(1)	£2,750
Quarter-finalists	(4)	£1,700
Second round	(8)	£900
First round	(16)	£500

Seeds

There were eight seeds for the tournament.^[1]

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

Results

Players in bold denote match winners.^[2][3][4]

Preliminary round

Player	Score	Player
John Ferrell	6–1	Paul Cook
Anthony Ridler	6–1	Gerome Vardaro
Darryl Fitton	6–4	Ritchie Gardner
Andy Jenkins	6–3	Avtar Gill
Drew O'Neill	6–4	John Part
Richie Burnett	6–1	Colin Monk
Mick Manning	bye	Raymond van Barneveld
Dean Allsop	bye	Larry Butler

Last 32

	First round (best of 15 legs) 28–29 July					Second round (best of 15 legs) 30 July					Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 31 July					Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 1 August					Final (best of 31 legs) 2 August
	1	Phil Taylor 113.43	8
		Gary Mawson 95.22	0
						1	Phil Taylor 92.01	8
						Q	Mick Manning 74.91	2
	Q	Mick Manning 76.20	8
		Harry Robinson 78.21	3
											1	Phil Taylor 97.29	11
											8	Bob Anderson 88.92	2
	8	Bob Anderson 85.62	8
	Q	Dean Allsop 78.15	5
						8	Bob Anderson 88.23	8
							Steve Brown 85.50	4
		Steve Brown 86.49	8
		Sean Downs 73.35	0
																1	Phil Taylor 99.21	13
																4	Rod Harrington 95.31	9
	5	Keith Deller 75.84	4
		Kevin Spiolek 81.30	8
							Kevin Spiolek 79.50	8
							Drew O'Neill 68.85	4
	Q	Drew O'Neill 80.40	8
	Q	John Ferrell 77.88	5
												Kevin Spiolek 83.88	5
											4	Rod Harrington 93.51	11
	4	Rod Harrington 101.22	8
		Cliff Lazarenko 89.37	2
						4	Rod Harrington 86.07	8
							Dennis Smith 82.59	2
		Dennis Smith 86.07	8
		Eric Bristow 81.15	2
																					1	Phil Taylor 106.32	16
																					6	Alan Warriner 98.43	11
	2	Peter Evison 89.37	8
		Graeme Stoddart 73.17	1
						2	Peter Evison	8
						Q	Anthony Ridler	5
	Q	Anthony Ridler	8
		Gerald Verrier	5
											2	Peter Evison 91.11	9
											Q	Richie Burnett 96.00	11
	7	Jamie Harvey 87.57	6
		Paul Lim 89.13	8
							Paul Lim 84.54	7
						Q	Richie Burnett 86.13	9
	Q	Richie Burnett 93.57	8
		Chris Mason 88.05	5
																Q	Richie Burnett 87.60	9
																6	Alan Warriner 91.05	13
	6	Alan Warriner 96.57	8
		Steve Raw 82.89	3
						6	Alan Warriner 92.91	8
							Peter Manley 87.00	1
		Peter Manley 84.63	8
	Q	Darryl Fitton 83.55	6
											6	Alan Warriner 101.55	11
											3	Dennis Priestley 97.23	7
	3	Dennis Priestley 85.77	8
	Q	Andy Jenkins 84.51	6
						3	Dennis Priestley 94.77	8
							Shayne Burgess 90.06	5
		Shayne Burgess 93.36	15
		John Lowe 95.13	13

Third place playoff (best of 21 legs) (4) Rod Harrington 11–10 Richie Burnett