For the first time, the winner of the tournament, (Gary Anderson) received the Phil Taylor Trophy, which was renamed in his honour in January 2018.

Anderson went on to win his first World Matchplay title, defeating Mensur Suljović, 21–19 after extra time in the longest final in the tournament's history.

Huybrechts won the match 13–12 in a sudden-death leg, the first time the rule had been needed since it was introduced in 2013.

Gary Anderson received £45,000 for hitting a nine-dart finish in his quarter-final against Joe Cullen.

The top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit as of 2 July 2018 were seeded for the tournament.