Unibet World Series Finals Draw

THE first round draw for the inaugural Unibet World Series of Darts Finals will pit Scottish star Robert Thornton against South Africa's Devon Petersen and Australian Kyle Anderson against Dave Chisnall in Glasgow on November 21.

The ITV4-televised tournament comes as the culmination of the year's World Series of Darts, which took in five tournaments in Dubai, Yokohama, Perth, Sydney and Auckland earlier in 2015.

The leading eight players from the final World Series of Darts rankings qualified by right to compete at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow, with a further 12 players from around the world invited alongside four PDC Qualifiers.

The first round on the afternoon of Saturday November 21 will see the 16 unseeded players face off, with Scotland's recent World Grand Prix winner Robert Thornton - from Ayrshire - set to face flamboyant South African Devon Petersen.

The winner of that contest will meet world number one Michael van Gerwen - the Dubai Darts Masters champion - in the second round later in the day in a tasty opening to the two-day tournament.

Australian ace Kyle Anderson, who has emerged over the past three years with the aid of the World Series, has drawn Dave Chisnall - with the winner set to take on number one seed Phil Taylor, who won the events in Yokohama, Perth and Sydney.

Reigning World Youth Champion Keegan Brown, from the Isle of Wight, will face Stoke's Ian White before the winner later takes on Auckland Darts Masters winner Adrian Lewis, the number two seed.

Number four seed Peter Wright, the Scottish-born ace who was the runner-up to Taylor in Japan, will play either German teenager Max Hopp or young Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Holland's emerging Benito van de Pas will face Wales' Jamie Lewis before the winner takes on Perth Darts Masters finalist James Wade, while number six seed Raymond van Barneveld plays the winner of the clash between former World Youth Champion Michael Smith and resurgent Welsh qualifier Mark Webster.

World Champion Gary Anderson, the number seven seed following his debut year on the World Series, will play either nine-time major finalist Terry Jenkins or qualifier Chris Dobey - the youngster from Northumberland who is making his TV debut in the event and was sponsored by the Scot to join the PDC circuit in January.

Australia's Simon Whitlock will play Austrian youngster Rowby-John Rodriguez in the other first round tie, with the winner moving through to play number eight seed Stephen Bunting in the second round.

The Unibet World Series of Darts Finals then concludes on Sunday November 22 with the quarter-finals in the afternoon session and the semi-finals and final in the evening session.

The tournament will be sponsored by leading betting company Unibet, who are also the title sponsors of The Unibet Masters and the Unibet European Championship.

"We are delighted to sponsor the Unibet World Series of Darts Finals," said Unibet UK Marketing Manager Chris Watson.

"Our existing sponsorships of the Unibet European Championship and The Unibet Masters have proved a huge success and engaged a large passionate sports audience.

"PDC events are without doubt the place to be, and Unibet are very happy to have extended our relationship."


Tickets for the Unibet World Series of Darts Finals can be booked online through Ticketmaster, by calling 0844 499 1700 or in person at the Braehead Arena Box Office (open Thurs-Sat). Easy Access Seats/Wheelchair Bookings via 0141 886 8300.

The schedule of play will be confirmed in due course.

Unibet World Series of Darts Finals
First Round Draw

Kyle Anderson v Dave Chisnall
Simon Whitlock v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Benito van de Pas v Jamie Lewis
Max Hopp v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Keegan Brown v Ian White
Terry Jenkins v Chris Dobey
Michael Smith v Mark Webster
Devon Petersen v Robert Thornton

Second Round Draw & Tournament Bracket
(1) Phil Taylor v Kyle Anderson/Dave Chisnall
(8) Stephen Bunting v Simon Whitlock/Rowby-John Rodriguez
(5) James Wade v Benito van de Pas/Jamie Lewis
(4) Peter Wright v Max Hopp/Dimitri Van den Bergh
(2) Adrian Lewis v Keegan Brown/Ian White
(7) Gary Anderson v Terry Jenkins/Chris Dobey
(6) Raymond van Barneveld v Michael Smith/Mark Webster
(3) Michael van Gerwen v Devon Petersen/Robert Thornton

Schedule of Play
Saturday November 21
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)

First Round
Simon Whitlock v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Benito van de Pas v Jamie Lewis
Max Hopp v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael Smith v Mark Webster
Keegan Brown v Ian White
Kyle Anderson v Dave Chisnall
Devon Petersen v Robert Thornton
Terry Jenkins v Chris Dobey

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Stephen Bunting v Whitlock/Rodriguez
James Wade v van de Pas/Lewis
Peter Wright v Hopp/Van den Bergh
Raymond van Barneveld v Smith/Webster
Adrian Lewis v Brown/White
Phil Taylor v K Anderson/Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen v Petersen/Thornton
Gary Anderson v Jenkins/Dobey

Sunday November 22
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)

Quarter-Finals
Wade/van de Pas/Lewis v Wright/Hopp/Van den Bergh
Taylor/K Anderson/Chisnall v Bunting/Whitlock/Rodriguez
A Lewis/Brown/White v G Anderson/Jenkins/Dobey
van Barneveld/Smith/Webster v van Gerwen/Petersen/Thornton

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Semi-Finals
Final

Format
First Round: Best of 11 legs
Second Round: Best of 11 legs
Quarter-Finals: Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals: Best of 21 legs
Final: Best of 21 legs