THE schedule of play for the Betway World Cup of Darts has been confirmed, with former champions Netherlands, 2015 finalists Scotland and host nation Germany set to compete on the opening night on Friday June 2 in Frankfurt.
The £250,000 tournament, televised live on Sky Sports, will feature 32 nations represented by two players as they compete across four days at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany in a mixture of Doubles and Singles matches.
The first round will commence on Thursday June 2 with eight matches, including two-time winners Netherlands taking on Russia.
Scotland, the 2015 runners-up, play New Zealand, while two other former finalists, Australia and Belgium, play Germany and Poland respectively as the tournament begins.
The opening night also features Hungary up against Thailand, the USA against the Philippines, Norway's clash with Gibraltar and the Scandinavian tussle between Denmark and Sweden.
The first round concludes with the remaining eight ties on Friday June 3, including reigning champions England's tie with Spain - who claimed victory when the sides met in the inaugural World Cup of Darts in 2010.
Northern Ireland meet Japan, Wales play Finland and Austria face Italy as the remaining seeds open their challenge, while Czech Republic take on China, Greece will make their debuts against Canada, the Republic of Ireland come up against Hong Kong and South Africa play Singapore.
The second round will be held across two sessions on Saturday June 4, with the quarter-finals in the afternoon session of Sunday June 5 before the tournament concludes in the evening session with the semi-finals and final.
Tickets for the Betway World Cup of Darts are available through www.pdc-europe.tv.
Latest betting odds from sponsors Betway can be seen at www.betway.com, with Netherlands the 6/4 favourites, England 2/1 and Scotland 9/2 to take the title.
Betway World Cup of Darts
Thursday June 2 (8pm local time)
First Round x8
Hungary v Thailand
USA v Philippines
Norway v Gibraltar
Denmark v Sweden
Belgium v Poland
Scotland v New Zealand
Netherlands v Russia
Australia v Germany
Friday June 3 (8pm local time)
First Round x8
Czech Republic v China
Greece v Canada
Republic of Ireland v Hong Kong
South Africa v Singapore
Northern Ireland v Japan
Wales v Finland
England v Spain
Austria v Italy
Saturday June 4
Afternoon Session (2pm local time)
Second Round x4
Belgium/Poland v Hungary/Thailand
Northern Ireland/Japan v Republic of Ireland/Hong Kong
Wales/Finland v Greece/Canada
Austria/Italy v South Africa/Singapore
Evening Session (8pm local time)
Second Round x4
Scotland/New Zealand v Norway/Gibraltar
Australia/Germany v Denmark/Sweden
England/Spain v Czech Republic/China
Netherlands/Russia v USA/Philippines
Sunday June 5
Afternoon Session (2pm local time)
Quarter-Finals
Order of Play TBC
Evening Session (8pm local time)
Semi-Finals
Final
Format
First Round
Best of nine legs Doubles
Second Round, Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals
The Second Round, Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals will be played as two best of seven leg 501 Singles matches, with both nations nominating the order in which their players play. In the event of both nations winning one Singles match apiece, a best of seven leg 501 Doubles match will be played to decide the tie.
Final
The Final will be played as two best of seven leg 501 Singles matches, with both nations nominating the order in which their players play the first two matches, followed by a best of seven leg 501 Doubles match and then Reverse Singles matches. The first team to win three games is declared the winner.
Prize Fund
Winning Team: £25,000 per player
Runners-Up: £13,000 per player
Semi-Finalists: £7,500 per player
Quarter-Finalists: £5,000 per player
Round Two Losers: £3,500 per player
Round One Losers: £1,500 per player
Total Prize Fund: £250,000