Draw released for PDC Autumn Series Day One: Smith v Ashton and De Sousa v Heta among top ties

The draw has been released ahead of the opening day of action at the PDC Autumn Series with five Players Championship events set to take place over the coming days in Niedernhausen, Germany.

Saturday sees Players Championship 14 with most big names involved in the return of ranking action including Michael van Gerwen who will have a point to prove over the next few days.

He begins his day against Krzysztof Kciuk. World Champion Peter Wright will take on Callan Rydz, who impressed in the World Series of Darts Finals Qualifier.

Gerwyn Price will take on Mickey Mansell also in terms of big names. There is no Gary Anderson this week who has decided not to be involved in either these events or next weekend's aforementioned World Series of Darts Finals in Salzburg.

Other ties to watch in the opening round in Germany include Jose De Sousa facing the returning Brisbane Darts Master, Damon Heta.

Kim Huybrechts facing Chris Dobey, Stephen Bunting against the impressive Jeff Smith who will look to attempt to qualify for the World Grand Prix this week as well as Michael Smith facing Lisa Ashton.

There is also the rapid fire match between Luke Humphries and Ricky Evans to look out for. Some quality ties to begin proceedings.

Click here for more information about the PDC Autumn Series, including the prize fund breakdown.

Gerwyn Price - | - Mickey Mansell

Brian Raman - | - Scott Mitchell

Devon Petersen - | - Kai Fan Leung

Andrew Gilding - | - Jason Lowe

Brendan Dolan - | - Richard North

Simon Whitlock - | - Niels Zonneveld

Ryan Joyce - | - Josh Payne

Bradley Brooks - | - Martin Schindler

Mensur Suljovic - | - Joe Murnan

Steffen Siepmann - | - Harry Ward

Steve Beaton - | - Jesus Noguera

Ross Smith - | - Maik Kuivenhoven

Daryl Gurney - | - Gavin Carlin

Wayne Jones - | - Alan Tabern

Joe Cullen - | - Carl Wilkinson

Scott Waites - | - Nick Kenny

Nathan Aspinall - | - Mark McGeeney

Andy Boulton - | - Ryan Meikle

Steve West - | - Andy Hamilton

Justin Pipe - | - Jelle Klaasen

Danny Noppert - | - Peter Jacques

Robert Thornton - | - Justin Hood

Jonny Clayton - | - Vincent van der Voort

Maikel Verberk - | - Scott Baker

Ian White - | - Christian Bunse

David Pallett - | - Kirk Shepherd

Dirk van Duijvenbode - | - Mike De Decker

Steve Lennon - | - Madars Razma

Rob Cross - | - Marko Kantele

Karel Sedlacek - | - Steve Brown

Jermaine Wattimena - | - Luke Woodhouse

Nathan Derry - | - Matthew Edgar

Peter Wright - | - Callan Rydz

Rowby-John Rodriguez - | - Graham Usher

Keegan Brown - | - Max Hopp

Barrie Bates - | - Dimitri Van den Bergh

Dave Chisnall - | - Jamie Lewis

Ryan Hogarth - | - William O'Connor

Gabriel Clemens - | - Darren Webster

Geert Nentjes - | - Boris Krcmar

James Wade - | - Scott Taylor

Robert Collins - | - Adrian Gray

Adrian Lewis - | - Mervyn King

Harald Leitinger - | - Ryan Murray

Glen Durrant - | - Aaron Beeney

Gary Blades - | - Yordi Meeuwisse

Jeffrey De Zwaan - | - Vincent Van der Meer

Conan Whitehead - | - Benito van de Pas

Krzysztof Ratajski - | - John Henderson

James Wilson - | - Derk Telnekes

Kim Huybrechts - | - Chris Dobey

Martijn Kleermaker - | - Daniel Larsson

Jose De Sousa - | - Damon Heta

Reece Robinson - | - Darius Labanauskas

Jamie Hughes - | - Jitse Van der Wal

Adam Hunt - | - Jan Dekker

Michael van Gerwen - | - Krzysztof Kciuk

Ricky Evans - | - Luke Humphries

Stephen Bunting - | - Jeff Smith

Ted Evetts - | - Toni Alcinas

Michael Smith - | - Lisa Ashton

John Michael - | - Ron Meulenkamp

Ryan Searle - | - Arjan Konterman

Matt Clark - | - William Borland