Michael Smith to face Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz on opening night of 2024 World Darts Championship

The draw for the World Darts Championship has been made and in this draw it became clear that reigning world champion Michael Smith will face Kevin Doets of Stowe Buntz in the first round.

Since the world champion is traditionally in action on the opening night of the World Darts Championship, it is also immediately clear that the match between Doets and Buntz will be the opening match of the 2024 World Darts Championship on Friday, December 15.

The winner of the showdown between the Dutchman and the American will then take on Smith later in the evening. One statistic is already in favor of 'Bullyboy'. Since the 2018 edition, the defending champion invariably plays on the opening night. The defending champion has never lost his first match.