THE first round of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts will feature 18 players with experience in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The 24-nation tournament will be held from December 3-5 at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne & Wear, and screened live on Sky Sports.
While the top eight nations will enter at the second round stage on Friday night, the first round earlier in the day will feature 16 other nations competing in doubles matches.
Of the 32 competing players, 18 have previously played in the World Championship, while William O'Connor and Antonio Alcinas have competed in the World Grand Prix and European Championship respectively after breaking through this year.
O'Connor will partner experienced Irish star Mick McGowan, while Alcinas's Spanish team-mate Carlos Rodriguez has played in the 2009 and 2010 World Championships.
While Ireland take on Slovakian debutants Peter Martin and Oto Zmelik, Spain's opponent's Japan will be represented by former World Championship qualifier Haruki Muramatsu and Taro Yachi, who has experience of playing on the PDC ProTour.
Russian pair Anastasia Dobromyslova and Roman Konchikov have both competed at Alexandra Palace previously, and they will line up against Gibraltar in the first round, for whom Dylan Duo has experience in the World Championship and UK Open and Dyson Parody has also played at Bolton.
Both Germany and New Zealand will be represented by two players who have played in the World Championship, with Jyhan Artut and Andree Welge lining up against a rookie Czech Republic side and Kiwis
Phillip Hazel and Warren Parry taking on the emerging Polish pair Krzsystof Kciuk & Krzsystof Ratajski.
Jarkko Komula and Marko Kantele have both played on the Alexandra Palace stage in the past two years and will take on a Belgium team which includes 2006 World Championship qualifier Patrick Bulen.
Per Laursen will make his sixth successive World Championship appearance in December and partners youngster Vladimir Andersen for Denmark, who take on the Austrian pair of Mensur Suljovic and Maik Langendorf in round one.
Magnus Caris played last year at Alexandra Palace and has also qualified again for this year's event to represent Sweden, who face a Slovenian team for whom Osmann Kijamet made his big-stage debut in the 2010 World Championship.
The first round will be played in a Doubles format over the best of 11 legs of 501, with the losing team throwing first in the next leg.
The eight first round winners will proceed to the second round on Friday night, where they face the top eight seeds - England, Holland, Australia, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Canada and the USA.
The Cash Converters World Cup of Darts will be played from December 3-5 at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Tickets cost £20 and £25 and can be purchased on 0871 220 0260 or via www.seetickets.com/worldcupofdarts.
Cash Converters World Cup of Darts
First Round Draw
(Order of play to be confirmed in due course)
Ireland (9) v Slovakia (24)
Mick McGowan & William O'Connor v Peter Martin & Oto Zmelik
Germany (10) v Czech Republic (23)
Jyhan Artut & Andree Welge v Martin Kapucian & Pavel Drtil
Spain (11) v Japan (22)
Carlos Rodriguez & Antonio Alcinas v Haruki Muramatsu & Taro Yachi
Finland (12) v Belgium (21)
Jarkko Komula & Marko Kantele v Patrick Bulen & Rocco Maes
New Zealand (13) v Poland (20)
Phillip Hazel & Warren Parry v Krzsystof Kciuk & Krzsystof Ratajski
Austria (14) v Denmark (19)
Mensur Suljovic & Maik Langendorf v Per Laursen & Vladimir Andersen
Sweden (15) v Slovenia (18)
Magnus Caris & Par Riihonen v Osmann Kijamet & Sebastijan Pecjak
Russia (16) v Gibraltar (17)
Anastasia Dobromyslova & Roman Konchikov v Dylan Duo & Dyson Parody
The Cash Converters World Cup of Darts will be played from December 3-5 at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Tickets cost £20 and £25 and can be purchased on 0871 220 0260 or via www.seetickets.com/worldcupofdarts.