THE inaugural Cash Converters World Cup of Darts begins on Friday, as 24 nations brave the heavy snow to compete in the £150,000 event at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring.
The tournament, screened live on Sky Sports, will be played across three days at the north-east venue, with a £40,000 first prize on offer for the winning two-player team.
With the leading 24 nations from the PDC Order of Merit invited to compete, Friday afternoon's first round will feature the teams ranked 9-24 playing off in knockout Doubles matches over the best of 11 legs - with admission free for the opening session.
The format for the event, alongside being Doubles, will be Loser Throws First, meaning that a team who lose a leg would begin the next leg first.
Friday afternoon's ties include the tournament's opening game, between Finland and Belgium, New Zealand versus Poland, Russia facing Gibraltar, Germany taking on the Czech Republic, Spain against Japan and the Republic of Ireland playing Slovakia.
The winners will progress to take on the top eight seeds in Friday night's second round, which will again be the best of 11 legs in the Doubles format.
England, represented by the world's top-two ranked players Phil Taylor and James Wade, will take on either Spain or Japan, while number two seeds the Netherlands - who see Raymond van Barneveld and Co Stompe team up - face Germany or the Czech Republic.
Australian pair Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson will team up to play either the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia, while number four seeds Scotland - represented by Gary Anderson and Robert Thornton - meet either Gibraltar or Russia, who boast former Women's World Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova alongside 2010 World Championship qualifier Roman Konchikov.
The eight winners from the second round will be split into two four-team groups for Saturday's play, with the top two from each moving to play in the semi-finals and final on Sunday - with play in the final two days a mixture of Singles and Doubles games.
"I'm really excited by the World Cup," said Taylor. "It's a totally different type of event to what we're used to, playing Doubles and also Loser Throws First, but that's part of the challenge.
"There are some brilliant players that people might not know amongst some of the teams, but this is a big opportunity.
"Although James and myself are favourites we won't be taking it lightly. I don't know much about the Japanese players but for Spain Carlos Rodriguez is a dangerous player and Antonio Alcinas is a new player who's made lots of progress this year."
World number two Wade, who teamed up with Taylor against Scotland last year to win the Jocky Wilson Cup, added: "I'm looking forward to it and it should be a good event.
"I'm lucky in a way to be partnering Phil and not playing against him, but we've both got to perform if we're going to win the tournament."
Scotland's Thornton said: "To represent your country in anything is one of the best things you can do and I'm really proud.
"I was fortunate enough to do it last year in the Jocky Wilson Cup against England and I get to do it again this year, and it's a brilliant honour.
"If Gary and myself had hit our doubles in the Jocky Wilson Cup it could have been a different story but Phil Taylor and James Wade were just too good for us.
"It was a bit of a disaster in the end to lose 5-0 but hopefully we can do better this time and maybe even win the World Cup. We know how each other players - we can both score heavily and as long as we hit our doubles we stand a good chance."
Despite heavy snowfall in the north-east, the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts will still go ahead as planned, with players having begun arriving in Houghton-le-Spring on Wednesday.
"It's nice in this weather to be doing an indoor sport but the only thing that will be cold inside the Rainton Meadows Arena will be the beer!" said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"There's a real sense of determination from everyone involved to ensure the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts takes place and is a great success."
Tickets for the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts are still available on 0871 220 0260 or via www.seetickets.com/worldcupofdarts.
Admission to Friday afternoon's first round session, from 1pm-5pm, will be free of charge, and doors will open at 12pm.
Cash Converters World Cup of Darts
Schedule, Format & Draw
First Round
Friday 1pm-5pm
8 x matches between teams ranked 9-24
Finland v Belgium
Sweden v Slovenia
Austria v Denmark
New Zealand v Poland
Russia v Gibraltar
Germany v Czech Republic
Spain v Japan
Republic of Ireland v Slovakia
Best of 11 legs, 501 Doubles, Loser Throws First
Second Round
Friday 7pm-11pm
8 x matches between afternoon winners drawn randomly against eight seeds.
Canada v Finland/Belgium
USA v Sweden/Slovenia
Northern Ireland v Austria/Denmark
Wales v New Zealand/Poland
Scotland v Russia/Gibraltar
Netherlands v Germany/Czech Republic
England v Spain/Japan
Australia v Republic of Ireland/Slovakia
Best of 11 legs, 501 Doubles, Loser Throws First
Saturday December 4
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Group A: four winners from Round Two, top two progress to semi-finals.
Each team plays each other team once in a match that consists of two best of five leg singles and a best of five leg doubles.
Top ranked player from each country plays second ranked player from opposition, then reverse singles, then doubles.
One point is awarded per singles match won, two per doubles.
All points count to overall league table.
Loser throws first, leg difference separates teams tied on points.
Group A
1. Netherlands/Germany/Czech Republic
2. Canada/Finland/Belgium
3. Northern Ireland/Austria/Denmark
4. Australia/Republic of Ireland/Slovakia
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Group B: As per afternoon session
Group B
1. England/Spain/Japan
2. USA/Sweden/Slovenia
3. Wales/New Zealand/Poland
4. Scotland/Russia/Gibraltar
Sunday December 5
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Semi-Finals
Top two from each group on Saturday progress to semi-finals.
Winner Group A v Runner-Up Group B
Winner Group B v Runner-Up Group A
Semi-finals consist of four best of 11 singles followed by a best of 11 doubles match (if required).
One point is awarded per singles match won, two per doubles.
Loser throws first.
If the match finishes all square (3-3) a sudden death doubles leg will be played with a bull-up on stage to determine who throws first.
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Final
Two semi-final winners contest final.
Final consists of four best of 15 singles matches and a best of 15 doubles match (if required).
One point is awarded per singles match won, two per doubles.
Loser throws first.
If the match finishes all square (3-3) a sudden death doubles leg will be played with a bull-up on stage to determine who throws first.
Cash Converters World Cup of Darts - Competing Nations
England (1) - Phil Taylor & James Wade
Netherlands (2) - Raymond van Barneveld & Co Stompe
Australia (3) - Simon Whitlock & Paul Nicholson
Scotland (4) - Gary Anderson & Robert Thornton
Wales (5) - Mark Webster & Barrie Bates
Northern Ireland (6) - Brendan Dolan & John MaGowan
Canada (7) - John Part & Ken MacNeil
USA (8) - Darin Young & Bill Davis
Ireland (9) - Mick McGowan & William O'Connor
Germany (10) - Jyhan Artut & Andree Welge
Spain (11) - Carlos Rodriguez & Antonio Alcinas
Finland (12) - Jarkko Komula & Marko Kantele
New Zealand (13) - Phillip Hazel & Warren Parry
Austria (14) - Mensur Suljovic & Maik Langendorf
Sweden (15) - Magnus Caris & Par Riihonen
Russia (16) - Anastasia Dobromyslova & Roman Konchikov
Gibraltar (17) - Dylan Duo & Dyson Parody
Slovenia (18) - Osmann Kijamet & Sebastijan Pecjak
Denmark (19) - Per Laursen & Vladimir Andersen
Poland (20) - Krzsystof Kciuk & Krzsystof Ratajski
Belgium (21) - Patrick Bulen & Rocco Maes
Japan (22) - Haruki Muramatsu & Taro Yachi
Czech Republic (23) - Martin Kapucian & Pavel Drtil
Slovakia (24) - Peter Martin & Oto Zmelik
Tickets for the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts are still available on 0871 220 0260 or via www.seetickets.com/worldcupofdarts.
Admission to Friday afternoon's first round session, from 1pm-5pm, will be free of charge, and doors will open at 12pm.