Draw and Schedule for 2023 Bahrain Darts Masters confirmed: Smith to face local star in first official match as World Champion

The PDC has released the draw and schedule for the 2023 Bahrain Darts Masters. Michael Smith will take on local star Abdulnasser Yusuf in his first official match since winning the world title after beating Michael van Gerwen in the World Championship final. The latter is not playing in Bahrain due to a holiday with his family.

Bahrain hosts the first World Series tournament of 2023 as the eight PDC representatives will take on eight Asian players. The Asian participants include darts legend Paul Lim, who was paired with Gerwyn Price in the draw.

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Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld meets Yuki Yamada in the first round, while Belgian star Dimitri van den Bergh will play against Alain Abiabi.

Luke Humphries makes his international World Series debut against Hong Kong's Man Lok Leung. Peter Wright crosses swords with Toru Suzuki, while Rob Cross takes on Nitin Kumar. Jonny Clayton faces Basem Mahmood in the last 16.

The first round will be completed on Thursday 12 January. The tournament continues on Friday evening as the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be played in a bumper session.

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Draw 2023 Bahrain Darts Masters

(1) Michael Smith v Abdulnasser Yusuf

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Alain Abiabi

(4) Luke Humphries v Man Lok Leung

Raymond van Barneveld v Yuki Yamada

(2) Peter Wright v Toru Suzuki

Rob Cross v Nitin Kumar

(3) Gerwyn Price v Paul Lim

Jonny Clayton v Basem Mahmood

Schedule 2023 Bahrain Darts Masters

Thursday January 12 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)

First Round

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Alain Abiabi

Rob Cross v Nitin Kumar

Luke Humphries v Man Lok Leung

Gerwyn Price v Paul Lim

Peter Wright v Toru Suzuki

Michael Smith v Abdulnasser Yusuf

Raymond van Barneveld v Yuki Yamada

Jonny Clayton v Basem Mahmood

Friday January 13 (1900 local time, 1600 GMT)

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final