The schedule of play has been confirmed for the first round of the 2024 Machineseeker European Championship, with five former PDC World Champions set to star on Thursday’s opening night in Dortmund.
The £600,000 event – featuring the top 32 players from the 2024 European Tour Order of Merit – will take place at the Westfalenhalle from October 24-27, as the sport’s biggest names battle it out for televised silverware.
With the first round split across Thursday and Friday nights, the opening session will feature a bumper line-up of matches from the top half of the draw.
Four-time European Champion Michael van Gerwen will take on home favourite Gabriel Clemens in Thursday's sixth tie of the evening, as fourth seed Dave Chisnall faces world number two Michael Smith.
German number one Martin Schindler will be the top seed on home soil after winning a brace of European Tour titles in 2024, and he kicks off his campaign against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Masters champion Stephen Bunting plays two-time World Champion Gary Anderson in another heavyweight showdown, with 2022 champion Ross Smith pitted against Luke Woodhouse.
2019 runner-up Gerwyn Price will open his challenge against Daryl Gurney, while eighth seed Ryan Searle meets five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld for a place in round two.
Elsewhere, Gian van Veen – a semi-finalist on debut 12 months ago – will kick off this year’s tournament when he goes up against the returning Ritchie Edhouse.
The first round will conclude on Friday evening, as reigning champion Peter Wright begins his title defence against Jermaine Wattimena, who returns to the European Championship for the first time since 2019.
World number one Luke Humphries – fresh from his Czech Darts Open success on Sunday – will headline Friday’s action when he renews his rivalry with 2023 World Matchplay winner Nathan Aspinall.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler meets former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, while sixth seed Josh Rock plays newly crowned World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker.
Two-time champion Rob Cross and 2018 winner James Wade will do battle in another high-profile clash, as Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko and Australian number one Damon Heta also collide.
Danny Noppert – who reached the last four in 2023 - kicks off Friday’s play against two-time semi-finalist Joe Cullen, before Chris Dobey and Jonny Clayton lock horns for a place in the second round.
The remaining 16 players will then feature in Saturday’s second round, with the quarter-finals taking place on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the decisive semi-finals and final on Sunday evening.
The Machineseeker European Championship will be broadcast live on ITV in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding subscribers based in the UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
2024 Machineseeker European Championship
Schedule of Play
Thursday October 24 (1900-2300 CEST, 1800-2200 BST)
First Round x8
Gian van Veen v Ritchie Edhouse
Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
Ross Smith v Luke Woodhouse
Stephen Bunting v Gary Anderson
Ryan Searle v Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen v Gabriel Clemens
Martin Schindler v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dave Chisnall v Michael Smith
Friday October 25 (1900-2300 CEST, 1800-2200 BST)
First Round x8
Danny Noppert v Joe Cullen
Chris Dobey v Jonny Clayton
Rob Cross v James Wade
Ricardo Pietreczko v Damon Heta
Peter Wright v Jermaine Wattimena
Luke Littler v Andrew Gilding
Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall
Josh Rock v Mike De Decker
Saturday October 26
Afternoon Session (1245-1700 CEST, 1145-1600 BST)
Second Round x4
Evening Session (1900-2300 CEST, 1800-2200 BST)
Second Round x4
Sunday October 27
Afternoon Session (1245-1700 CET, 1145-1600 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900-2300 CET, 1800-2200 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 11 legs
Second Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs