Schedule and preview Friday afternoon session 2022 European Darts Matchplay including Menzies, Williams and Montgomery

After a short absence mainly due to the World Series, the European Tour will return with a visit to Trier for the European Darts Matchplay in the ninth tournament of the season.

Mostly dominated by Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries so far this season, only the latter is involved this weekend and due to the late withdrawal of the Green Machine alongside Michael Smith and Peter Wright, it leaves only six matches in the afternoon session on Friday.

It all kicks off with 'The Sweet Ferret' in Johan Engstrom taking on 'Jammie Dodger' James Wilson with the victor set to face Rob Cross who himself will sense an opportunity to finally win a European Tour after multiple finals this season often losing to Humphries.

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Following the opener, the fans in Trier will likely be serenaded by the tones of Thunderstruck by AC/DC with the usual warning of 'The Boss' entering the stage as Ross Montgomery makes his European Tour debut in a sentence many darts fans wouldn't have been expecting to hear.

But Jermaine Wattimena fresh off winning on stage in Amsterdam last week is his opposition with the winner set to face Nathan Aspinall.

Third up is a former European Tour winner in Jamie Hughes facing Wesley Plaisier who has superb form this season not only in these tournaments but recently helping Netherlands win the Six Nations Cup, a potential shock in the opening session.

Scott Williams is next up with the garish trousers and Paul Nicholson socks initially garnering attention but it has been the darts that have done the talking for 'Shaggy' as he sealed a maiden ProTour title earlier this month. He faces Radek Szaganski with Jonny Clayton potentially set for a tough opener.

Finishing the session is Cameron Menzies who face Niels Zonneveld with Luke Humphries facing the winner in a superb tie however it goes before the original 'Shaggy' in Joe Murnan faces Ian White who will look to erase a torrid season so far with a good run this weekend. Defending champion Joe Cullen awaits the winner.

Schedule of Play

Friday July 1

First Round

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Johan Engstrom v James Wilson

Ross Montgomery v Jermaine Wattimena

Jamie Hughes v Wesley Plaisier

Radek Szaganski v Scott Williams

Niels Zonneveld v Cameron Menzies

Joe Murnan v Ian White