Grand Slam of Darts 2020 schedule: Monday evening session, featuring Price, Wright and Van Gerwen

The schedule of the Grand Slam of Darts' first evening is packed with wall-to-wall entertainment.

We've got reigning back-to-back champion Gerwyn Price, world champion Peter Wright, in-form Michael Smith and Joe Cullen, and many more including Michael van Gerwen, who might take a break from scrapping to win a fourth Grand Slam of Darts trophy.

Amid the bombast and bluster of the big names, our night in Coventry starts with two players who aren't the loudest but are among the most talented. Jonny Clayton has a big chance of making strides at the Grand Slam, as does Ryan Joyce.

Joe Cullen now has a pair of 2020 PDC titles; next on his to-do list is a major final (a win would be ideal). Gabriel Clemens had a stunning start to the Winter Series before tailing off. Last year, he won his group at a canter before narrowly losing to Glen Durrant in the second round.

Read also

Prize Money breakdown for the 2020 Grand Slam of Darts with £550,000 on offer

Group C's an absolute delight, unless you're taking part in it. The first of two games is between the favourites of darts anoraks. Krzysztof Ratajski and Jose de Sousa could serve up an absolute classic if they're both on it, prompting fans of either to remind you that they were big Ratajski/de Sousa fans before they became mainstream.

After that, Michael Smith is hoping that ending a title drought will prompt a run at that elusive major. His first challenge is taking on Lisa Ashton, fresh off a promising Winter Series where she beat Rob Cross and John Henderson, and ran Ian White close.

Michael van Gerwen hasn't made too many positive headlines, so it's time to get back to winning. Cullen and Clemens will be big roadblocks to his Group A hopes - but let's not look past Adam Hunt, who will be highly motivated to do well in a tough group.

A year ago, Gerwyn Price won the Grand Slam of Darts, saving himself the bother of handing over the trophy he'd won the year before. It's going to be a big task to make it three out of three, but if anyone's up to it, it's the red-hot Iceman. He starts against the last of the women's BDO world champions, Mikuru Suzuki. After missing the Women's Series, and with a paucity of events back home, it'll be nice to see the Japanese star back in action.

Read also

How to watch 2020 Grand Slam of Darts live

Dirk van Duijvenbode's having quite a year. Following the Grand Prix final and European Championship quarter-finals, the big Dutchman now has a first ever shot at the Grand Slam. And it's quite the opener for van Duijvenbode, with Peter Wright setting his sights on the right start to a bid for a first Grand Slam title.

The night ends with a really cracking tie, between Ian White and Devon Petersen. Their Winter Series performances were a mixed bag, but more recent stage showings have been much stronger. A repeat of their recent European Championship quarter-final, where Petersen averaged 106.3 in a comeback triumph, would be welcomed by viewers, but not White. Surprisingly, this is Petersen's first Grand Slam, while it's White's sixth and a chance to make it out of the groups in successive years after four early exits.

2020 Grand Slam of Darts Schedule

Monday November 16

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

19:10 Jonny Clayton v Ryan Joyce (G)

19:40 Joe Cullen v Gabriel Clemens (A)

20:10 Krzysztof Ratajski v Jose De Sousa (C)

20:40 Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton (C)

21:10 Michael van Gerwen v Adam Hunt (A)

21:40 Gerwyn Price v Mikuru Suzuki (G)

22:10 Peter Wright v Dirk van Duijvenbode (E)

22:40 Ian White v Devon Petersen (E)