Schedule and preview Friday evening session 2023 Masters including Cullen-Dobey, Heta-Ross Smith and Van den Bergh-Anderson

It's time for the Masters. The annual tournament at the end of January that officially opens the new season. A field of 24 players battles for the first major title in Milton Keynes.

Since the field was extended, this allows for a first round to take place with the top seeds coming in on Saturday.

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Tournament Centre 2023 Masters: Schedule, results, format, TV Guide and Prize money breakdown

Defending champion though is Joe Cullen who does not benefit from seeded status. He faces Chris Dobey, while European Champion in Ross Smith takes on Damon Heta.

Dimitri van den Bergh is also in action in the first round and will face 'The Flying Scotsman' Gary Anderson. Also involved on the opening night are James Wade, Nathan Aspinall and Dirk van Duijvenbode.

It will be the short best of 11 format and begins at 7pm on ITV4 this evening with our handy TV Guide below.

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TV Guide ITV4 and ITV3 2023 Masters: First major of the new season including Van Gerwen, Smith, Wright and Price

Schedule Masters 2023

Friday 27 January (from 19:00)

First round

Ryan Searle v Dave Chisnall

James Wade v Callan Rydz

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Krzysztof Ratajski

Nathan Aspinall v Stephen Bunting

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Gary Anderson

Jose de Sousa v Gabriel Clemens

Joe Cullen v Chris Dobey

Damon Heta v Ross Smith