The PDC World Darts Championship will see 96 players compete from December 13-January 1 for £2.5 million in prize money and the Sid Waddell Trophy live on Sky Sports. Van Gerwen claimed a third world title on New Year's Day this year after defeating Michael Smith in the final. The Dutchman leads this year's field as the number one seed.
Raymond van Barneveld will kick off his final tournament as a professional player against Darin Young. Compatriot and former protégé Jeffrey de Zwaan awaits in the second round. The five-time world champion will retire after this year's World Championship.
2018 World Champion Rob Cross meets either Kim Huybrechts or Geert Nentjes in his first match, while Gerwyn Price will play against William O'Connor or Marko Kantele. Last year's finalist Michael Smith takes on Luke Woodhouse or nine-dart hero Paul Lim. Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson will meet Brendan Dolan or Nitin Kumar.
Peter Wright kicks off his tournament against Rowby-John Rodriguez or Noel Malicdem, while 2011 & 2012 World Champion Adrian Lewis faces Cristo Reyes or Lourence Ilagan. Three-time Lakeside champion Glen Durrant will make his tournament debut against Jose de Sousa or Damon Heta.
(1) Michael van Gerwen v Jelle Klaasen / Kevin Burness
(32) Ricky Evans v Mark McGeeney / Matt Campbell
(16) Jonny Clayton v Ryan Joyce / Jan Dekker
(17) Stephen Bunting v Arron Monk / Jose Justicia
(8) James Wade v Ritchie Edhouse / Boris Koltsov
(25) Steve Beaton v Kyle Anderson / Xiaochen Zong
(9) Ian White v Darius Labanauskas / Matthew Edgar
(24) Max Hopp v Gabriel Clemens / Benito van de Pas
(5) Gary Anderson v Brendan Dolan / Nitin Kumar
(28) Steve West v Ryan Searle / Robbie King
(12) Nathan Aspinall v Andy Boulton / Danny Baggish
(21) Krzysztof Ratajski v Jamie Hughes / Zoran Lerchbacher
(4) Michael Smith v Luke Woodhouse / Paul Lim
(29) Dimitri van den Bergh v Josh Payne / Diogo Portela
(13) Adrian Lewis v Cristo Reyes / Lourence Ilagan
(20) Darren Webster v Ryan Meikle / Yuki Yamada
(2) Rob Cross v Kim Huybrechts / Geert Nentjes
(31) Danny Noppert v Steve Lennon / Callan Rydz
(15) Joe Cullen v James Wilson / Nico Kurz
(18) Jermaine Wattimena v Luke Humphries / Devon Petersen
(7) Peter Wright v Rowby-John Rodriguez / Noel Malicdem
(26) Keegan Brown v Mickey Mansell / Seigo Asada
(10) Dave Chisnall v Vincent van der Voort / Keane Barry
(23) Jeffrey de Zwaan v Raymond van Barneveld / Darin Young
(6) Daryl Gurney v Justin Pipe / Benjamin Pratnemer
(27) Glen Durrant v Jose de Sousa / Damon Heta
(11) Mensur Suljovic v Ted Evetts / Fallon Sherrock
(22) Chris Dobey v Ron Meulenkamp / Ben Robb
(3) Gerwyn Price v William O'Connor / Marko Kantele
(30) John Henderson v James Richardson / Mikuru Suzuki
(14) Simon Whitlock v Harry Ward / Madars Razma
(19) Mervyn King v Ross Smith / Ciaran Teehan