DUTCH DUO SET FOR FIREWORKS IN UNIBET MASTERS!
DUTCH duo Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld have predicted fireworks on the oche when they go head-to-head on Saturday when The Unibet Masters kicks off at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh.
World Champion van Gerwen takes on Premier League Darts champion van Barneveld as the ITV4-televised event - featuring the world's top 16 darts players - opens with eight first round games on Saturday.
Van Barneveld defeated the younger Dutchman in the final of this year's Premier League Darts as he lifted that title, only for van Gerwen to gain revenge last weekend with a nine-darter as he took victory in their European Championship semi-final before going on to win the event.
That success for van Gerwen capped a near-perfect October which also saw him win the World Grand Prix and a Players Championship event in Crawley, and the 25-year-old has returned to Edinburgh in confident mood of winning a third successive televised title.
"It would be fantastic to win this tournament and I'll be doing everything I can to do that this weekend, but I know it will be tough," said van Gerwen. "I'm having a great run at the moment and my form is very good.
"I've never won this event before so it's my aim to do that, but I've got to focus on every game. I know Raymond very well and we know each other's game, so I'll get ready for him and we'll see what happens, but it will be a fantastic game."
Van Barneveld, who has slipped to 16th in the PDC Order of Merit, defeated van Gerwen in The Masters last year in Edinburgh, and after winning through to the semi-finals of last weekend's European Championship in Germany is in positive mood.
"I'm really happy to be in the tournament because it was a big fight with me, Kim and Ian White to get into the top 16 and I'm still there," said van Barneveld, who edged out White for the final qualifying place.
"It's very important for me and I'll be giving it my all because I want to be the best Dutch player, but Michael is phenomenal at the minute. Last year I beat him in Scotland but he's growing and growing and at times he looks like he can't miss.
"He's the world number one and World Champion, but he's not undefeatable. If you keep him under pressure, maybe he will make mistakes - but if you give him opportunities he will rip your head off!"
Reigning Unibet Masters champion Phil Taylor will take on two-time major finalist Wes Newton, the world number 15, in another tasty first round tie as the 16-time World Champion bids to pick up the £50,000 first prize on Sunday night.
"It was a great tournament last year and I'll be trying my best to keep hold of the title," said Taylor. "The Scottish fans always create a great atmosphere and I'm sure they'll do that again this weekend.
"This is the best 16 players in the world so you know what you're going to get - brilliant darts!"
World number three Adrian Lewis will take on Kim Huybrechts, the Belgian star who lost narrowly when the pair met in a high-quality thriller in the event 12 months ago.
Huybrechts, though, has returned to top form in recent weeks and is predicting another classic on Saturday afternoon.
The 28-year-old said: "It was a brilliant game last year - I lost 6-5 and averaged 106 and we played a wonderful game of darts.
"It was a great atmosphere and I really enjoyed it, so I hope that if I get two darts to win the game this time they'll go in!
"It's a special tournament to be in because it's the best 16 players in the world and I'm pleased to be among those 16 players, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Scottish-born Peter Wright had lost to van Gerwen in the first round 12 months ago on his debut on stage in Edinburgh, but after reaching the World Championship final is now ranked fourth in the world.
The colourful star will take on Justin Pipe in round one, and said: "Justin's a fantastic player so it should be a tough game and I'm looking forward to kicking the tournament off and hopefully getting a win.
"It was a big moment for me last year to play in Scotland, and this year I feel even better because I'm coming into a bit of form.
"I've been struggling for most of the year and my form's been up and down, but I played well in the World Grand Prix and last week at the European Championship. I'm sticking to a set of darts now and my form's starting to pick up.
"I said I want to be playing like a world number four and I'm not there yet. In practice I'm playing like the world number four, three or two and it's not happening on stage yet, but it's coming. Hopefully I can have a good run in the tournament and get to the final."
After Wright and Pipe open the tournament on Saturday afternoon, Scotland's Robert Thornton then takes to the stage against 2013 World Grand Prix runner-up Dave Chisnall.
Australian star Simon Whitlock, the 2012 European Championship winner and world number five, then takes on Mervyn King, before the afternoon session is completed by the quick-fire clash between Lewis and Huybrechts.
Resurgent James Wade - who reached the World Grand Prix final last month and won his second ranking title of the year - then opens up the evening session against Unibet Masters debutant Brendan Dolan.
Northern Ireland's Dolan missed out on last year's tournament but has won his first five ranking titles in the past 12 months to restore his status amongst the world's top 16.
"It's been a major turnaround for me," said the 2011 World Grand Prix finalist. "It's an adrenaline rush to think that I'm one of the elite players in this event.
"I've had a great year, and to go from not being in The Masters and winning my first event on the same weekend, to winning four more events since then and establishing myself back in the top 16 is brilliant.
"To be mixing with all these top-class players in such a big event is an honour. I've been doing it on the circuit for the last few years anyway, but when you pick out the top 16 players in the world and you're one of them, it's a joy and a thrill."
Dolan added: "James is playing very well at the minute, and he seems to have a lot more confidence, but I feel if my best game comes out, that I can do a number on him."
Taylor then faces Newton and van Gerwen plays van Barneveld before the event's third Scottish star, Gary Anderson, takes on Andy Hamilton in the night's final first round game.
The £160,000 tournament will then conclude on Sunday, with the quarter-finals in the afternoon session to be followed by the semi-finals and final in the evening session.
Tickets for The Unibet Masters will be available at the Royal Highland Centre on Saturday November 1 and Sunday November 2. Play commences at 12.45pm and 7pm on each day, with doors opening one hour before each session.
The Unibet Masters
Schedule of Play
Saturday November 1
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)
First Round x4
Peter Wright v Justin Pipe
Dave Chisnall v Robert Thornton
Simon Whitlock v Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis v Kim Huybrechts
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
First Round x4
James Wade v Brendan Dolan
Phil Taylor v Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson v Andy Hamilton
Sunday November 2
Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm)
Quarter-Finals
Whitlock/King v Wright/Pipe
Wade/Dolan v Lewis/Huybrechts
Taylor/Newton v Anderson/Hamilton
van Gerwen/van Barneveld v Chisnall/Thornton
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Semi-Finals
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs
Prize Fund
Winner - £50,000
Runner-Up - £20,000
Semi-Finalists - £10,000
Quarter-Finalists - £7,500
First Round Losers - £5,000
Total - £160,000