Betfred Donates ￡30K at World Matchplay
Author:
Jacob McKenzie
British bookmaker Betfred has donated ￡30,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support. The charitable gesture came as part of Betfred’s sponsorship of the World Matchplay and Women’s World Matchplay competitions. The World Matchplay final saw Nathan Aspinall claim victory, while Beau Greaves won the women’s title.
Nathan Aspinall stormed the final to take home the Phil Taylor Trophy.
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Charitable Initiative
Macmillan Cancer Support has received a generous donation of ￡30,000 from leading betting and gaming operator Betfred. The title sponsors of Betfred World Matchplay and Women’s World Matchplay gave their backing to the cancer charity for the second year in a row.
The annual events at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens are amongst the most prestigious in the darts calendar. Betfred pledged to donate ￡50 for every 180 hit during the competitions. The bookmaker also donated ￡1 per point as players and celebrities participated in the Nine-Dart Charity Challenge.
Betfred’s promise proved fruitful for Macmillan Cancer Support, as a total of 315 180s were hit during World Matchplay. A further nine 180s were landed in the Women’s World Matchplay. Nathan Aspinall topped the leaderboard with the most 180s hit, racking up an individual total of 44.
The Nine-Dart Charity Challenge also raised a worthwhile sum for the worthy charity. ￡9,793 was collected as stars from the sporting world took on the challenge. Amongst those who took part were World Matchplay finalists Aspinall and Jonny Clayton. Reigning champions Michael van Gerwen and Fallon Sherrock also tried their luck, as did rugby league star Kris Radlinksi and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Betfred increased the total donation to Macmillan Cancer Support to ￡30,000 after this year’s events came to a close on July 23rd. The bookmaker has previously raised funds for The Stroke Association and Parkinson’s UK since taking on the title sponsorship for World Matchplay in 2019.
Aspinall Lifts Trophy
Speaking after the tournament, Betfred boss Fred Done described the sponsorship of the annual darts competition as a highlight for the operator. He also expressed his delight at being able to support great charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support. Done praised the talents of the players that participated this year, stating:
“The players have been fantastic throughout both the World Matchplay and Women’s World Matchplay, both through the quality and entertainment on stage and their support for our charity activity. The money raised for Macmillan Cancer Support will be invaluable for such an important charity.”
The World Matchplay final saw a hotly anticipated face-off between Nathan Aspinall and Jonny Clayton. Ahead of the match it was all to play for. Welshman Clayton had beaten Luke Humphries 17-15 in a nail-biting semi-final. However, against Aspinall, Clayton was virtually a bystander.
Aspinall won the biggest title of his career on Sunday night, producing one of his best displays ever to beat Clayton 18-6. The player from Stockport won thirteen of the last fourteen legs, including eleven in a row from 5-5. After clinching his second PDC event title, Aspinall moved up four places to fifth in the world rankings.
The Englishman had lost the Grand Slam and Grand Prix finals last year, but returned to this year’s event in Blackpool victorious. Aspinall collected the ￡200,000 winner’s prize and became the twelfth player to take the title. He was delighted with his win, telling reporters that the people who come to Blackpool are diehard darts fans.
Greaves Wins Women’s Title
Aspinall praised his opponent, who also featured in his maiden World Matchplay final, describing him as a credit to the sport and the best person on the tour. The winner was also pleased to have played a role in raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support on the unforgettable night that he lifted the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy. Aspinall said:
“It’s great that Betfred are making such a large donation to Macmillan Cancer Support. They’re a wonderful charity who do so much good work, and it’s an honour to have been able to help raise such a brilliant sum of money for them.”
Aspinall was not the only player to leave Blackpool victorious. Teenager Beau Greaves won the Women’s World Matchplay on her first attempt, marking herself as a formidable force in the sport. The 19-year-old top seed made her debut in the competition, smoothly defeating Japan’s second seed Mikuru Suzuki 6-1.
Greaves has broken a series of records over last year, in the run-up to claiming the ￡10,000 prize. She will now proceed to the Grand Slam and the PDC World Championship. Accepting the trophy, the young talent was humble, saying that she had not expected to win the way she was playing.
She added that she wants to practice more and get more comfortable on the big stage. Greaves took the opportunity to praise the caliber of her opponents, adding that she has so much respect for all of the ladies that played. As a two-time back-to-back British Darts Organization women’s world champion, Suzuki was a worthy competitor.
