Schedule and preview Thursday evening session 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship including defending champion Wright

It is the most wonderful time of the year and it is time for Dartmas, the only tournament (the World Cup this year aside) watched by most during the festive period, the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship begins on Thursday night.

A tantalizing tungsten treat awaits as 96 players battle it out for the Sid Waddell Trophy and £500,000 on offer which was won by Peter Wright.

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Similar to Wimbledon down the road, the defending champion always headlines the opening day and in this case it is 'Snakebite'. Albeit with recent health issues with his wife Jo, he will take center stage hoping for a third World title.

Like all of the second round clashes, Wright doesn't know who he will face but the winner of the opening match will play twice with the two-time World Champion awaiting to end the evening.

Unlike last time he'd won the title where he adorned his Grinch costume, he will be in front of a packed Ally Pally after the socially distanced one night only affair of two years ago.

Mickey Mansell or Ben Robb will await with the latter potentially an outside bet maybe even to topple Wright having played in the UK for the past week in the MODUS Super Series. 'Big Rig' as well as Raymond Smith and Danny van Trijp have been involved down in Portsmouth and could benefit from the match practice.

Second up is Keane Barry with 'Dynamite' set to make his presence known on the PDC World Darts Championship stage again against Grant Sampson, the South African qualifier who denied Devon Petersen the chance to win through.

The winner will face Kim Huybrechts with either Wright or Mansell/Robb awaiting in the third round. While third on will be a quick fire battle as Jermaine Wattimena faces Nathan Rafferty.

'Machine Gun' has been coming into some form towards the back end of 2022 while Rafferty is always solid but it won't get easier with Michael Smith the opponent next.

It all begins at 7pm on Sky Sports, Merry Dartmas to one and all, the festive period has officially begun.

2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship

Schedule of Play

Thursday December 15 (1900 GMT)

3x First Round, 1x Second Round

Mickey Mansell v Ben Robb (R1)

Keane Barry v Grant Sampson (R1)

Jermaine Wattimena v Nathan Rafferty (R1)

Peter Wright v Mansell/Robb (R2)