Lisa Ashton’s Women’s World Matchplay defence has been given a sharp opening edge after the confirmed Blackpool draw paired the reigning champion with Rhian O’Sullivan.
The PDC has confirmed the eight-player Betfred Women’s World Matchplay bracket for Sunday, July 26, with Ashton seeded second after finishing on £15,550 on the qualifying rankings. O’Sullivan came through in seventh on £6,300, setting up a quarter-final that immediately tests Ashton’s title security rather than easing her back into the Winter Gardens.
The field and draw bracket for the 2026 Betfred Women’s World Matchplay has been confirmed.
Ashton’s route carries added Blackpool pressure
Ashton won last year’s title and now returns with a larger £40,000 prize fund in play, including £15,000 for the champion. The winner will also qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts and the 2026/27 World Darts Championship, giving the afternoon session a direct impact beyond the trophy itself.
The opposite side of the draw keeps Beau Greaves away from Ashton until a possible final. Greaves opens against Kirsi Viinikainen, while Gemma Hayter faces Vicky Pruim and Fallon Sherrock meets Deta Hedman.
That makes Ashton’s opener the stabilising match in the bracket. Beat O’Sullivan, and her defence quickly becomes a title-retention campaign. Lose it, and Blackpool gets another immediate reminder of how little protection ranking seedings offer in short-format women’s darts.
Sources: PDC draw confirmation, Sky Sports bracket and prize money details.
