Schedule and preview Monday evening session 2022 World Grand Prix including Van Gerwen-Anderson and Clayton-Van Duijvenbode

For the second year in succession, Double In in Dublin is not on the cards with Leicester set to host the World Grand Prix once again starting on Monday night.

Due to the Citywest, the traditional venue for a block of ProTours as well as the main tournament being used firstly as a COVID-19 hospital and then now to house Ukrainian refugees, the Midlands city which previously hosted the Champions League of Darts stepped up to host the tournament last year.

It will now return and with the 2023 PDC Calendar now confirmed with Leicester set as seemingly the home of the tournament for at least the foreseeable, the action will begin on Monday evening.

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All beginning with a bumper session featuring the defending champion and a game which will receive all the billing - but will it live up to the star power it has on paper?

Of course that tie sees Michael van Gerwen face Gary Anderson in a clash seen as one of the best darting rivalries of recent years albeit with 'Mighty Mike' through intermittent form especially in this tournament but having won the last two majors on Sky Sports in the Premier League and World Matchplay.

But since winning it in 2019, he has lost in the Quarter-Finals and last year to Danny Noppert in the first round.

Anderson though is always a player who is unpredictable - he didn't play for 75 days like most players before playing at the World Series Finals and the ongoing 'has he practiced' or what Gary Anderson will turn up is an interesting debate.

If both turn up, it could be the cracker that it is seen on paper but if not it could be a very one sided affair.

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But this is in the middle of four matches which could all take the plaudits with the defending champion in Jonny Clayton mentioned.

He returns to defend his last TV title he won during an epic 2021 against Dirk van Duijvenbode who reached the final two years ago but will now defend that money. It is a match which could see 'The Ferret' in trouble.

Following Clayton will be Peter Wright who faces Kim Huybrechts who took a career best win over Van Gerwen in Wieze a few weeks ago and will take that confidence as he looks to continue his resurgence.

For 'Snakebite', it has been real signs of promise after returning from injury and with the run up to the World Championship, he could time his return to form to perfection with a maiden title in this format.

Before Jose de Sousa who himself has been superb at times recently albeit not following that up, he faces Adrian Lewis with many dreaming of 'Jackpot' of old but can he reproduce or will 'The Special One' seal the win.

Before those ties, Dimitri van den Bergh will face Dave Chisnall with the latter fresh off winning in Wieze, while with health scares, 'The Dreammaker' is an interesting proposition form wise.

In another match that could catch light, Luke Humphries seen by many as potentially a Premier League player next year and a future major winner faces a player dubbed with that for a while in Chris Dobey. With both superb to watch natural games, it could be a real tungsten treat.

Starting the night will be Dobey's fellow Bedlington thrower in Callan Rydz who faces Krzysztof Ratajski before 'The History Maker' returns albeit not to the scene of his history but the tournament that gave him his moniker as Brendan Dolan faces Stephen Bunting.

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Schedule of Play

Monday October 3 (1900 BST)

8x First Round matches

Callan Rydz v Krzysztof Ratajski

Brendan Dolan v Stephen Bunting

Chris Dobey v Luke Humphries

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Dave Chisnall

(7) Jonny Clayton v Dirk van Duijvenbode

(2) Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts

(3) Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson

(6) Jose de Sousa v Adrian Lewis