View source for 1998 World Matchplay

{{Infobox individual darts tournament
|tournament_name = 1998 World Matchplay 
|image = 
|dates = 27 July–1 August 1998
|venue = [[Winter Gardens, Blackpool|Winter Gardens]]
|location = [[Blackpool]]
|country = {{ENG}}
|organisation = [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]]
|format = Legs
|prize_fund = [[Pound sterling|£]]58,000
|winners_share = £14,000
|nine_dart = 
|high_checkout = '''167''' {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alan Warriner]]
|winner = {{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Rod Harrington]]'''
|prev = [[1997 World Matchplay|1997]]
|next = [[1999 World Matchplay|1999]]
}}
The '''1998 [[World Matchplay (darts)|World Matchplay]]''' was a darts tournament held in the [[Empress Ballroom]] at the [[Winter Gardens, Blackpool|Winter Gardens]], [[Blackpool]]. The tournament ran from 27 July–1 August 1998, and was won by [[Rod Harrington]].

A classic final between Harrington and [[Ronnie Baxter]] was characterised with deadly finishing from Baxter, who led the final for most of the way, and Harrington's stubbornness in clinging on and keeping the match neck-and-neck. However, Harrington eventually trailed 14–17 and was only 1 leg from defeat. Baxter had a championship dart at double 20 in the 33rd leg but missed. At 17-17, a moment of significant darting history occurred when Harrington took out 125 via treble 15 and two consecutive double 20s. The standard check out route on 80 with two darts in hand had been, up to this point, almost invariably treble 20 and double ten. From then on, it would become more common to see players attempt the Harrington route. With Baxter (who had looked likely to regain the lead) demoralised, Harrington maintained a clear lead throughout the next leg, and sealed the title on double five.

[[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]] was the reigning champion going into the tournament, but lost 10-13 to Baxter in the quarter finals. Taylor had led 9-5 and 10-8.

==Prize money==
The prize fund was £58,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=1998 World Matchplay Player Prize Money|url=https://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResultsPrize.aspx?EventKey=254|work=Darts Database|access-date=5 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514051048/https://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResultsPrize.aspx?EventKey=254|archive-date=14 May 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Position <small>(no. of players)</small>
! Prize money<br /><small>(Total: £58,000)</small>
|-
|'''Winner'''
| align=center | <small>(1)</small>
| align=center | £14,000
|-
|'''Runner-Up'''
| align=center | <small>(1)</small>
| align=center | £7,000
|-
|'''Semi-finalists'''
| align=center | <small>(2)</small>
| align=center | £3,500
|-
|'''Quarter-finalists'''
| align=center | <small>(4)</small>
| align=center | £2,000
|-
|'''Second round'''
| align=center | <small>(8)</small>
| align=center | £1,250
|-
|'''First round'''
| align=center | <small>(16)</small>
| align=center | £750
|-
|}

==Seeds==
There were eight seeds for the competition.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Matchplay 1998|url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/world-matchplay/1998|work=Mastercaller|access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>

{{columns-list|
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Rod Harrington]]
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alan Warriner-Little|Alan Warriner]]
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]]
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Manley]]
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Evison]]
#{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dennis Priestley]]
#{{flagicon|CAN}} [[John Part]]
#{{flagicon|USA}} [[Steve Brown (darts player, born 1962)|Steve Brown]]
}}

==Results==
Players in bold denote match winners.<ref>{{cite web|title=1998 World Matchplay Results|url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=254|work=Darts Database|access-date=5 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914020053/http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=254|archive-date=14 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Results of World Matchplay 1998|url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/world-matchplay/1998/results|work=Mastercaller|access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=World Matchplay 1998 – Bracket|url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/world-matchplay/1998/bracket|work=Mastercaller|access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>

{{32TeamBracket
| RD1={{Nowrap|'''First round''' (''best of 15 legs'')<br>26–27 July}}
| RD2={{Nowrap|'''Second round''' (''best of 15 legs'')<br>28 July}}
| RD3={{Nowrap|'''Quarter-finals''' (''best of 25 legs'')<br>29–30 July}}
| RD4={{Nowrap|'''Semi-finals''' (''best of 25 legs'')<br> 31 July}}
| RD5={{Nowrap|'''Final''' (''best of 35 legs'')<br>1 August}}
| team-width=200
| RD1-seed01=1
| RD1-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Rod Harrington]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">92.04</span></small>
| RD1-score01='''8'''
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kevin Spiolek]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">86.79</span></small>
| RD1-score02=4
| RD1-seed03=&nbsp;
| RD1-team03={{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Gary Mawson]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.82</span></small>
| RD1-score03='''9'''
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04={{flagicon|USA}} [[Paul Lim]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">88.32</span></small>
| RD1-score04=7
| RD1-seed05=8
| RD1-team05={{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Steve Brown (darts player, born 1962)|Steve Brown]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">87.09</span></small>
| RD1-score05='''8'''
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dennis Smith (darts player)|Dennis Smith]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">83.55</span></small>
| RD1-score06=4
| RD1-seed07=&nbsp;
| RD1-team07={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Bob Anderson (darts player)|Bob Anderson]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">85.62</span></small>
| RD1-score07='''8'''
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Cliff Lazarenko]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">81.75</span></small>
| RD1-score08=2
| RD1-seed09=5
| RD1-team09={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Evison]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">95.64</span></small>
| RD1-score09=4
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Keith Deller]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">94.80</span></small>
| RD1-score10='''8'''
| RD1-seed11=&nbsp;
| RD1-team11={{flagicon|ENG}} '''Mick Manning''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">91.32</span></small>
| RD1-score11='''9'''
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12={{flagicon|ENG}} Reg Harding <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.70</span></small>
| RD1-score12=7
| RD1-seed13=4
| RD1-team13={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Peter Manley]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">91.02</span></small>
| RD1-score13='''8'''
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ritchie Gardner]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">83.73</span></small>
| RD1-score14=5
| RD1-seed15=&nbsp;
| RD1-team15={{flagicon|SCO}} '''[[Jamie Harvey]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">87.15</span></small>
| RD1-score15='''8'''
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16={{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Raw <small><span style="color:dimgray;">91.08</span></small>
| RD1-score16=6
| RD1-seed17=2
| RD1-team17={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Alan Warriner-Little|Alan Warriner]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">92.46</span></small>
| RD1-score17='''8'''
| RD1-seed18=
| RD1-team18={{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Robinson <small><span style="color:dimgray;">78.00</span></small>
| RD1-score18=2
| RD1-seed19=&nbsp;
| RD1-team19={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Steve Beaton]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">87.30</span></small>
| RD1-score19='''8'''
| RD1-seed20=
| RD1-team20={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Shayne Burgess]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">87.06</span></small>
| RD1-score20=4
| RD1-seed21=7
| RD1-team21={{flagicon|CAN}} [[John Part]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">87.18</span></small>
| RD1-score21=5
| RD1-seed22=
| RD1-team22={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Chris Mason (darts player)|Chris Mason]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">90.78</span></small>
| RD1-score22='''8'''
| RD1-seed23=&nbsp;
| RD1-team23={{flagicon|USA}} '''Gerald Verrier''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">76.14</span></small>
| RD1-score23=8
| RD1-seed24=
| RD1-team24={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Eric Bristow]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">73.44</span></small>
| RD1-score24=5
| RD1-seed25=6
| RD1-team25={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dennis Priestley]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">90.45</span></small>
| RD1-score25=7
| RD1-seed26=
| RD1-team26={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[John Ferrell (darts player)|John Ferrell]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">83.34</span></small>
| RD1-score26='''9'''
| RD1-seed27=&nbsp;
| RD1-team27={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie Baxter]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.34</span></small>
| RD1-score27='''14'''
| RD1-seed28=
| RD1-team28={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy Jenkins]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">81.75</span></small>
| RD1-score28=12
| RD1-seed29=3
| RD1-team29={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">96.18</span></small>
| RD1-score29='''8'''
| RD1-seed30=
| RD1-team30={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Graeme Stoddart]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">80.10</span></small>
| RD1-score30=1
| RD1-seed31=&nbsp;
| RD1-team31={{flagicon|ENG}} '''Robbie Widdows''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">&nbsp;</span></small>
| RD1-score31='''8'''
| RD1-seed32=
| RD1-team32={{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Lowe (darts player)|John Lowe]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">&nbsp;</span></small>
| RD1-score32=6
| RD2-seed01=1
| RD2-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Rod Harrington]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">91.32</span></small>
| RD2-score01='''8'''
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02={{flagicon|USA}} [[Gary Mawson]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">86.73</span></small>
| RD2-score02=6
| RD2-seed03=8
| RD2-team03={{flagicon|USA}} [[Steve Brown (darts player, born 1962)|Steve Brown]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">93.96</span></small>
| RD2-score03=4
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Bob Anderson (darts player)|Bob Anderson]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">92.13</span></small>
| RD2-score04='''8'''
| RD2-seed05=&nbsp;
| RD2-team05={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Keith Deller]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">81.12</span></small>
| RD2-score05='''8'''
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06={{flagicon|ENG}} Mick Manning <small><span style="color:dimgray;">90.21</span></small>
| RD2-score06=6
| RD2-seed07=4
| RD2-team07={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Peter Manley]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">90.99</span></small>
| RD2-score07='''8'''
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08={{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jamie Harvey]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">92.16</span></small>
| RD2-score08=6
| RD2-seed09=2
| RD2-team09={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alan Warriner-Little|Alan Warriner]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">93.69</span></small>
| RD2-score09=7
| RD2-seed10=
| RD2-team10={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Steve Beaton]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">88.95</span></small>
| RD2-score10='''9'''
| RD2-seed11=&nbsp;
| RD2-team11={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Chris Mason (darts player)|Chris Mason]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">77.61</span></small>
| RD2-score11='''8'''
| RD2-seed12=
| RD2-team12={{flagicon|USA}} Gerald Verrier <small><span style="color:dimgray;">68.19</span></small>
| RD2-score12=3
| RD2-seed13=&nbsp;
| RD2-team13={{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Ferrell (darts player)|John Ferrell]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">87.72</span></small>
| RD2-score13=5
| RD2-seed14=
| RD2-team14={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie Baxter]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">93.81</span></small>
| RD2-score14='''8'''
| RD2-seed15=3
| RD2-team15={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">&nbsp;</span></small>
| RD2-score15='''8'''
| RD2-seed16=
| RD2-team16={{flagicon|ENG}} Robbie Widdows <small><span style="color:dimgray;">&nbsp;</span></small>
| RD2-score16=2
| RD3-seed01=1
| RD3-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Rod Harrington]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">92.04</span></small>
| RD3-score01='''14'''
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bob Anderson (darts player)|Bob Anderson]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.88</span></small>
| RD3-score02=12
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Keith Deller]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">84.36</span></small>
| RD3-score03='''13'''
| RD3-seed04=4
| RD3-team04={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Manley]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.07</span></small>
| RD3-score04=9
| RD3-seed05=&nbsp;
| RD3-team05={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Beaton]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.07</span></small>
| RD3-score05=6
| RD3-seed06=
| RD3-team06={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Chris Mason (darts player)|Chris Mason]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">94.20</span></small>
| RD3-score06='''13'''
| RD3-seed07=
| RD3-team07={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie Baxter]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">97.05</span></small>
| RD3-score07='''13'''
| RD3-seed08=3
| RD3-team08={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">99.48</span></small>
| RD3-score08=10
| RD4-seed01=1
| RD4-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Rod Harrington]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">92.82</span></small>
| RD4-score01='''13'''
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Keith Deller]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">82.65</span></small>
| RD4-score02=10
| RD4-seed03=&nbsp;
| RD4-team03={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Chris Mason (darts player)|Chris Mason]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">97.74</span></small>
| RD4-score03=11
| RD4-seed04=
| RD4-team04={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Ronnie Baxter]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">97.38</span></small>
| RD4-score04='''13'''
| RD5-seed01=1
| RD5-team01={{flagicon|ENG}} '''[[Rod Harrington]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">95.04</span></small>
| RD5-score01='''19'''
| RD5-seed02=
| RD5-team02={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie Baxter]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">94.08</span></small>
| RD5-score02=17
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{World Matchplay (darts)}}

[[Category:World Matchplay (darts)]]
[[Category:1998 in darts|World Matchplay Darts]]