1994 World Matchplay

The 1994 Proton Cars World Matchplay was the inaugural staging of the World Matchplay darts tournament, and was held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool between 1–8 August 1994.

1994 Proton Cars World Matchplay
Tournament information
Dates	1–8 August 1994
Venue	Winter Gardens
Location	Blackpool
Country	England
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Legs
Prize fund	£42,800
Winner's share	£10,000
Champion(s)
Larry Butler
1995»

This was the first World Matchplay tournament to be held at Winter Gardens, and was sponsored by Malaysian automaker Proton. The tournament was won by Larry Butler, who became the first, and so far only play from the United States of America to win a PDC televised title. He defeated the reigning WDC World Champion Dennis Priestley in the final; Priestley would go onto lose the next two World Matchplay finals in addition to this.

Prize money

The prize fund was £42,400.

Position (no. of players)		Prize money (Total: £42,400)
Winner	(1)	£10,000
Runner-Up	(1)	£6,000
Third place	(1)	£3,250
Fourth place	(1)	£2,750
Quarter-finalists	(4)	£1,500
Second round	(8)	£800
First round	(16)	£500

Seeds

1. Dennis Priestley
2. Peter Evison
3. Bob Anderson
4. Steve Brown
5. Rod Harrington
6. Sean Downs
7. Cliff Lazarenko
8. Kevin Spiolek

Results

	First round (best of 15 legs) 1–3 August					Second round (best of 15 legs) 4–5 August					Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 6 August					Semi-finals (best of 21 legs) 7 August					Final (best of 31 legs) 8 August
	1	Dennis Priestley 88.41	8
		Eric Bristow 76.29	3
						1	Dennis Priestley 89.10	8
							Gerald Verrier 80.10	4
		Gerald Verrier 83.49	8
		John Lowe 76.80	2
											1	Dennis Priestley 98.49	11
												Jamie Harvey 87.81	4
	8	Kevin Spiolek 80.10	6
		Jamie Harvey 82.89	8
							Jamie Harvey 87.21	8
							Graeme Stoddart 79.80	3
		Graeme Stoddart 81.30	8
		Whit Whitley 72.99	2
																1	Dennis Priestley 94.80	11
																5	Rod Harrington 92.19	4
	5	Rod Harrington 86.61	8
		Kevin Burrows 78.99	2
						5	Rod Harrington 78.81	8
							Paul Lim 81.09	4
		Tony Payne 88.23	3
		Paul Lim 82.11	8
											5	Rod Harrington 86.79	11
												Jim Watkins 81.09	7
	4	Steve Brown 78.90	4
		Jim Watkins 85.89	8
							Jim Watkins 82.29	18
							Keith Deller 80.01	16
		Jim Widmayer 78.21	6
		Keith Deller 83.40	8
																					1	Dennis Priestley 91.59	12
																						Larry Butler 92.70	16
	2	Peter Evison 81.21	3
		Jocky Wilson 82.50	8
							Jocky Wilson 88.59	10
							Alan Warriner 86.10	8
		Ritchie Gardner 88.80	6
		Alan Warriner 91.29	8
												Jocky Wilson 90.39	4
												Larry Butler 94.29	11
	7	Cliff Lazarenko 72.09	6
		Jerry Umberger 78.51	8
							Jerry Umberger 78.30	2
							Larry Butler 82.50	8
		Larry Butler 83.61	8
		Steve Raw 80.49	2
																	Larry Butler 90.39	11
																	Shayne Burgess 85.41	7
	6	Sean Downs 77.61	7
		Shayne Burgess 80.49	9
							Shayne Burgess 84.99	8
							Dennis Smith 79.59	4
		Dave Kelly 70.80	3																		Third place playoff (best of 21 legs) 8 August
		Dennis Smith 79.89	8
												Shayne Burgess 88.11	11								5	Rod Harrington	11
											3	Bob Anderson 89.91	8									Shayne Burgess	9
	3	Bob Anderson 85.29	8
		Mick Manning 83.79	4
						3	Bob Anderson 90.51	11
							Phil Taylor 89.49	9
		Tom Kirby 81.81	2
		Phil Taylor 86.70	8