The draw and schedule has been confirmed for the 2023 European Darts Matchplay which is set to take place in Trier on June 30-July 2.
Luke Humphries is the defending champion and the number one seed. He will enter the fray in round two against either Marko Kantele of one of the stars of the European Tour in 2023, Liam Maendl-Lawrance.
Michael van Gerwen is seeded sixth and he could be set for a blockbuster tie with his compatriot Raymond van Barneveld. If the former five-time world champion can navigate his way past George Killington in his opening match.
Among the standout opening round ties, Jose de Sousa takes on Gabriel Clemens, William O'Connor faces off against James Wade and in an all-Dutch affair, Gian van Veen is up against former Lakeside champion Christian Kist.
The Welsh duo of Gerwyn Price and Jim Williams have withdrawn from the event, being replaced from the Reserve List by Andrew Gilding and Callan Rydz.
2023 European Darts Matchplay
Tournament Draw Bracket - Second Round Onwards
(6) Michael van Gerwen v George Killington/Raymond van Barneveld
(11) Ryan Searle v Jose de Sousa/Gabriel Clemens
(3) Dave Chisnall v Ryan Joyce/Ted Evetts
(14) Joe Cullen v Daniel Klose/Vitezslav Sedlak
(7) Michael Smith v Kim Huybrechts/Keane Barry
(10) Josh Rock v Connor Scutt/Brendan Dolan
(2) Dirk van Duijvenbode v Darryl Pilgrim/Andrew Gilding
(15) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Fabian Herz/Ricardo Pietreczko
(5) Rob Cross v Mickey Mansell/Matt Campbell
(12) Jonny Clayton v William O'Connor/James Wade
(4) Damon Heta v Gian van Veen/Christian Kist
(13) Martin Schindler v Stephen Burton/Callan Rydz
(8) Nathan Aspinall v Graham Hall/Martin Lukeman
(9) Danny Noppert v Simon Whitlock/James Wilson
(1) Luke Humphries v Liam Maendl-Lawrance/Marko Kantele
(16) Ross Smith v Luke Woodhouse/Stephen Bunting
Schedule of Play
Friday June 30
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Ryan Joyce v Ted Evetts
Daniel Klose v Vitezslav Sedlak
Gian van Veen v Christian Kist
Graham Hall v Martin Lukeman
Connor Scutt v Brendan Dolan
Darryl Pilgrim v Andrew Gilding
Mickey Mansell v Matt Campbell
Stephen Burton v Callan Rydz
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Liam Maendl-Lawrance v Marko Kantele
Fabian Herz v Ricardo Pietreczko
Kim Huybrechts v Keane Barry
William O'Connor v James Wade
George Killington v Raymond van Barneveld
Jose de Sousa v Gabriel Clemens
Simon Whitlock v James Wilson
Luke Woodhouse v Stephen Bunting
Saturday July 1
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Dave Chisnall v Joyce/Evetts
Josh Rock v Scutt/Dolan
Rob Cross v Mansell/Campbell
Damon Heta v Van Veen/Kist
Nathan Aspinall v Hall/Lukeman
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Pilgrim/Gilding
Joe Cullen v Klose/Sedlak
Ross Smith v Woodhouse/Bunting
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Jonny Clayton v O'Connor/Wade
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Herz/Pietreczko
Ryan Searle v De Sousa/Clemens
Michael van Gerwen v Killington/Van Barneveld
Michael Smith v Huybrechts/Barry
Luke Humphries v Maendl-Lawrance/Kantele
Martin Schindler v Burton/Rydz
Danny Noppert v Whitlock/Wilson
Sunday July 2
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final