GERWYN PRICE, Daryl Gurney and Max Hopp are to make their debuts on the PDC World Series of Darts circuit this year after the fields for the opening three tournaments of 2017, in Dubai, Shanghai and Las Vegas, were confirmed.
The PDC's World Series of Darts, which was introduced in 2013, sees a series of top players compete in tournaments worldwide throughout the year ahead of the season-ending World Series of Darts Finals.
The fifth staging of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters will again see an eight-player field line up in the unique open-air setting of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
The 2017 tournament will see reigning champion Gary Anderson defending his title against rivals including three-time winner Michael van Gerwen, who was the winner from 2013-2015 in the tournament's first three years.
Former finalists Peter Wright, Phil Taylor - who is in his final year on the PDC circuit - and Raymond van Barneveld are also in action alongside James Wade, Dave Chisnall and emerging Welsh ace Price.
Price, 31, will be making his World Series of Darts debut in Dubai, having reached his first TV final at the UK Open last weekend to continue his remarkable rise since leaving behind a career as a rugby player to turn professional in 2014.
The second Shanghai Darts Masters will see eight PDC stars coming up against eight regional representatives in the 16-player event.
The tournament, to be held on July 7-8, will see two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis - the 2015 Auckland Darts Masters champion - join Van Gerwen, Anderson, Wright, Wade, Chisnall, Taylor and Van Barneveld in taking on the top Asian players in Shanghai.
The following week will see top-class darts return to Las Vegas with the inaugural PDC U.S. Masters at the Tropicana Hotel Casino Resort, with the North American Championship on July 13 to be followed by the two-day World Series of Darts event.
The main event will see two of the sport's emerging talents competing on the World Series stage for the first time, with Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney, who was a World Championship quarter-finalist and UK Open semi-finalist, and Germany's former World Youth Champion Max Hopp making their debuts.
They will line up alongside Van Gerwen, Anderson, Wright, Lewis, Taylor and Van Barneveld as they take on eight North American qualifiers in the tournament.
A further three PDC World Series of Darts events will then take place during August, with the field of PDC competitors for each tournament to be confirmed in due course.
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: "It was our intention to inject fresh blood into the World Series of Darts this year, and this is a fantastic opportunity for Gerwyn, Daryl and Max to showcase their talents on a global stage.
"We're trying to grow professional darts worldwide through the World Series, but we also want to increase the opportunities available for top PDC players.
"Gerwyn performed brilliantly to reach the UK Open final on Sunday and has shown that he's got the ability under pressure to mix it with the biggest names in darts.
"Daryl was talked about as a potential candidate for the Premier League this year following his progress, and Max has already gained incredible experience despite being just 20.
"This is a great chance for all three now to show that they belong amongst the biggest names in the sport like Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson."
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters and PDC U.S. Masters are available now.
Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters
May 24-25, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium
Michael van Gerwen
Gary Anderson
Peter Wright
James Wade
Dave Chisnall
Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price
Tickets: www.dubai-darts.com
Shanghai Darts Masters
July 7-8
Michael van Gerwen
Gary Anderson
Peter Wright
Adrian Lewis
James Wade
Dave Chisnall
Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld
Ticket information TBC
PDC U.S. Masters
July 14-15, Tropicana Casino Hotel Resort, Las Vegas
Michael van Gerwen
Gary Anderson
Peter Wright
Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld
Daryl Gurney
Max Hopp
Tickets & Travel Packages: www.pdc.tv/Vegas