World Championship Schedule Released

The playing Schedule for the World Championship was today released by the PDC.
The 3 week Ally Pally extravaganza begins on Thursday 14th December, with Michael van Gerwen topping the nights bill, as is the defending champions right and duty.
Opening the show will be 1996 World Champion Steve Beaton. He'll face off against debutant Irishman William O'Connor in what looks to be a tight opening affair. Next it will be a battle of the former BDO men. James Wilson the former number 1 will face off against Krysztof Ratajski, the reigning Winmau world master, who has been given a wild card to the event. Finally Premier league hopeful Gerwyn Price will be looking for a big run in this event to secure his place in the touring exhibition giant. He will play the youngest tour card holder in the PDC, Ted Evetts, who came through a tough PDPA qualifying field in Milton Keynes on Monday.
Phil Taylor will begin the search for his 17th, and final, world championship title in Friday's evening session. In what will most likely be the last event we see the great man play in, can he go all the way for a fairytale ending? Chris Dobey is the man standing in his way in round one, hoping to join the very exclusive club of men to have defeated Taylor at the world championships. Also in the session will be Former BDO world champion Stephen Bunitng against the newly crowned World Youth Champion Dimitri van den Bergh. If both men can hold there recent form heading into this one it could be an almighty clash.
Plus, if that wasn't enough, 2017 PDC sensation Rob Cross will play in the evenings final game. He awaits the winner of the preliminary match between Seigo Asada and Gordan Mathers.
Saturdays double session will see the entrance of former champion Gary Anderson. He will play either former Lakeside finalist Jeff smith, or Development tour winner Luke Humphries. Joe Cullen, Jelle Klaasen, Robert Thornton and Mervyn King are also in action throughout the day.
Another double session will take place on the Sunday. Kyle Anderson gets the Tv prime slot of third on in the afternoon. Thats after a great year that includes his maiden PDC pro tour title and the Auckland Darts masters. MAybe he could be a surprise package for the event and force himself into a Premier league spot? He'll have to get through Yorkshireman Peter Jacques in the first round though. Fellow maiden title winner, and last weekends players championship finalist Jonny Clayton will also play in the same session. He awaits the victor of the prelim between Neyens and Jamie Lewis.
Monday will see Mensur Mania hit Ally Pally once more. The Gentle giant from Austria is another first time winner in the PDC this year. Kevin Painter will stand in his way of a seconf round spot.
Daryl Gurney, the other man to have pushed on to claim a major this year will face a tricky test in the ever-steady Ronny Huybrechts.
Tuesday sees 5 time champion of the world Raymond van Barneveld step into the fray. Richard North, another debutant will be in his way of the second round. Another former world champion will follow Barneys game. Adrian Lewis. Lewis is defending big money at this years event after losing in the final 2 years ago. He'll be hoping to go all the way to retain his top 8 spot. He awaits the winner of another Prelim.
The final 2 sessions of round 1 will be across Wednesday and Thursday. Michael Smith, Simon Whitlock, Kim Huybrechts and Peter Wright will all be in action hoping to still be in with a chance of being world champion when the second round begins on Friday. There is also the small matter of the battle of the Spaniards as Cristo Reyes and Antonio Alcinas do battle on the friday.
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