The 2022 Viaplay Dutch Darts Masters begins in Amsterdam on Friday, as Michael van Gerwen takes on Danny Noppert in a mouth-watering all-Dutch tie.
The inaugural staging of the PDC World Series event will see 16 players battling it out for the £20,000 top prize at the Ziggo Dome from June 24-25.
Friday’s opening round pits the eight PDC superstars against eight Dutch representatives, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place across a blockbuster evening session on Saturday.
Newly crowned Premier League champion Van Gerwen takes on UK Open champion Noppert in Friday night’s headline act, as Van Gerwen makes his return from injury.
The three-time World Champion underwent wrist surgery last Tuesday, having revealed last month that he had been suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in his throwing arm.
Noppert, meanwhile, is on the cusp of a place in the world’s top ten, and after lifting his maiden televised title at the UK Open, he led Netherlands to their first World Cup semi-final since 2019 in Frankfurt last weekend.
"Playing Michael is going to be a really tough challenge, but I'm playing well and I believe in my own ability," said Noppert, who defeated Van Gerwen en route to reaching last year's World Grand Prix semi-finals.
"I know what Michael can do, but he knows what I am capable of, so it should be a brilliant game.
"Winning the UK Open has given me so much belief, and I am hungry for more titles now.
"I made the final in Zwolle a few weeks ago, so hopefully I can go one step further this weekend."
World Champion Peter Wright will lock horns with Dirk van Duijvenbode in another thrilling tie, with the Dutchman fresh from an impressive campaign at the World Cup of Darts.
The former TV finalist produced a series of imperious displays in Frankfurt, having also reached a second Pro Tour final of 2022 in Niedernhausen last week.
Wright came out on top in the pair's last televised clash, although Van Duijvenbode senses an opportunity to claim a major scalp on home soil.
"It should be a fantastic game against Peter," said Van Duijvenbode, a World Grand Prix runner-up in 2020.
"He is the World Champion and the world number one, but I'm playing well and I'm confident.
"I really enjoyed the World Cup. Danny and I both played some great darts, and hopefully we can take that form into this weekend.
"I cannot wait to play in front of a Dutch crowd again. We always get amazing support and it should be a brilliant atmosphere in Amsterdam."
Another enthralling clash sees world number two Gerwyn Price collide with Dutch veteran Vincent van der Voort, a former UK Open finalist.
Price fired in a career-best 117.88 average to steer Wales through to last Sunday’s World Cup final, and the 2020 World Series Finals winner will meet Van Gerwen or Noppert if he progresses to the last eight.
Top seed Michael Smith will play Pro Tour finalist Martijn Kleermaker in an explosive first round clash, as US Darts Masters winner Smith bids to continue his blistering form on Dutch soil.
The St Helens star has scooped five titles during the last two months, and he could take on Wright in the quarter-finals, in a repeat of last year’s World Championship final.
Second seed Dimitri Van den Bergh, a winner at the Nordic Darts Masters, kicks off his quest for back-to-back World Series crowns against left-hander Ron Meulenkamp.
Jonny Clayton makes his World Series return after missing out in Copenhagen, and last year’s Premier League champion faces Jermaine Wattimena in his opener.
Elsewhere, ten-time TV title winner James Wade plays former World Matchplay semi-finalist Jeffrey de Zwaan, while history-maker Fallon Sherrock begins her campaign against Maik Kuivenhoven.
The tournament will be broadcast live on Viaplay throughout the weekend, through the PDC's international broadcast partners, including DAZN, and through PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
UK viewers can watch through PDCTV throughout, with a Summer Pass subscription option available, while ITV4 coverage will feature the first round from 1400-1800 BST on Saturday, ahead of the final stages live from 1800 BST.
2022 Viaplay Dutch Darts Masters
Schedule of Play
Friday June 24 (1900 local time)
First Round
Jonny Clayton v Jermaine Wattimena
Fallon Sherrock v Maik Kuivenhoven
James Wade v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Gerwyn Price v Vincent van der Voort
Michael Smith v Martijn Kleermaker
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ron Meulenkamp
Michael van Gerwen v Danny Noppert
Peter Wright v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Best of 11 legs
Saturday June 25 (1900 local time)
Quarter-Finals (Order of Play TBC)
Smith/Kleermaker v Wright/Van Duijvenbode
Wade/De Zwaan v Sherrock/Kuivenhoven
Van den Bergh/Meulenkamp v Clayton/Wattimena
Van Gerwen/Noppert v Price/Van der Voort
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Best of 13 legs
Final
Best of 15 legs
Draw Bracket
(1) Michael Smith v Martijn Kleermaker
Peter Wright v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(4) James Wade v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Fallon Sherrock v Maik Kuivenhoven
(2) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ron Meulenkamp
Jonny Clayton v Jermaine Wattimena
(3) Michael van Gerwen v Danny Noppert
Gerwyn Price v Vincent van der Voort