Who won the inaugural World Matchplay darts tournament in 1994?

Larry Butler won the inaugural World Matchplay darts tournament in 1994.

The first tournament was held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England, in July 1994. Butler defeated Dennis Priestley 16–12 in the final to become the event’s first champion.

The World Matchplay is one of the Professional Darts Corporation’s major tournaments. Unlike the World Championship, it is played in legs rather than sets, and the final has traditionally required a player to win by two clear legs, subject to a deciding-leg rule.

Butler’s victory is sometimes overshadowed by Phil Taylor’s dominance of the competition. Taylor won the title many times after its launch, but he was not the inaugural champion. The 1994 event established Blackpool’s Winter Gardens as a major recurring darts venue.