James Wade vs Jermaine Wattimena (World Matchplay): odds and bets 19.07.2026

James Wade and Jermaine Wattimena meet in one of the most intriguing first-round ties at the World Matchplay. Wade is the sixth seed, a former champion and last year’s runner-up, but Wattimena has won each of their four most recent encounters. For that reason, I believe this contest is considerably closer than the outright prices might suggest.

The main tactical battle should be Wade’s finishing against Wattimena’s superior maximum-hitting potential. The Dutchman is more likely to produce the heavier scoring visits, while Wade is usually more composed when legs become scrappy. Missed doubles could ultimately decide a match in which both players should have periods of control.

James Wade

Wade returns to the Winter Gardens for his 21st World Matchplay appearance. He won the tournament in 2007 and reached another final in 2025, defeating Joe Cullen, Wessel Nijman, Gian van Veen and Jonny Clayton before losing to Luke Littler. Very few players understand the venue, the format and the pressure of long matches as well as he does.

His 2026 season has provided further evidence that he remains competitive at the highest level. Wade reached the World Masters quarter-finals and contested a second consecutive UK Open final, maintaining a season win rate of approximately 65%. He may not regularly produce averages above 105, but his game management and finishing continue to win him matches against stronger scorers.

His recent results have been solid rather than exceptional. Wade defeated Maik Kuivenhoven 6-4 and Jan Schmidt 6-2 at the European Darts Open before losing 6-2 to Sebastian Białecki. He has also recorded victories over Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price and Adam Sevada during the current campaign.

What I particularly like about Wade is his ability to stay close without dominating the scoring statistics. His first-nine average has remained competitive, while his preferred finishing routes, especially double 10 and double 12, continue to be reliable. He will not be overly concerned if Wattimena wins the 180 count, provided he receives regular opportunities at doubles.

The main concern is his recent record in this match-up. Wattimena has won their last four meetings, including a 3-0 World Championship victory in which Wade struggled badly on the doubles. Another slow start could leave him chasing an opponent who now looks far more comfortable in televised matches.

Jermaine Wattimena

Wattimena arrives in Blackpool with considerable confidence after reaching the European Darts Open final. During that run, he defeated Kim Huybrechts 6-0, Ryan Joyce 6-1, Luke Woodhouse 6-5 and Damon Heta 7-3 before losing 8-6 to Krzysztof Ratajski. That performance demonstrated that he can maintain a strong level throughout an entire weekend.

The Dutchman is currently established just outside the world’s top 16 and has won roughly 62% of his matches this season. His progress has been increasingly noticeable since reaching the 2024 European Championship final and claiming two Players Championship titles in 2025. He is no longer merely a dangerous outsider; he is capable of going deep in major events.

His overall World Matchplay record is less impressive than Wade’s. Last year’s victory over Peter Wright was his first win at the tournament on his fifth appearance, although he subsequently reached the second round. That success should help, as the Winter Gardens can be an intimidating venue for players without much experience on its stage.

Wattimena’s strongest betting angle is his scoring. He generally produces more maximums than Wade, attacks treble 20 with greater frequency and plays at a faster tempo. When he finds his rhythm, he can create separation through consecutive visits of 140 or better and prevent Wade from applying pressure to his finishing.

His weakness remains inconsistency on the doubles. Wattimena can dominate the scoring for several legs and still allow an opponent back into the contest through missed opportunities. Against Wade, that is particularly dangerous. For this reason, I prefer supporting Wattimena in scoring-based markets rather than backing him at a short price to win.

Format and key match-up data

The first round is played over a minimum best of 19 legs, with the first player to ten progressing. A player must normally win by two clear legs, although the tie-break is limited before a sudden-death leg is introduced. The longer format should favour experience and consistency more than a typical best-of-11 contest.

Wattimena has dominated the recent head-to-head record. He defeated Wade 10-9 at the 2024 European Championship, 3-0 at the World Championship, 6-3 on the European Tour and 10-8 at the 2025 Players Championship Finals. Wade won their earlier meetings, but Wattimena’s current four-match sequence suggests he is comfortable with the Englishman’s pace and style.