Schedule for 2022 European Championship released: Defending champion Cross on opening night, Price, Wright and Van Gerwen on Day Two

The PDC has released the schedule of play for the European Championship, which takes place from October 27-30 in the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund.

Defending champion Rob Cross headlines the lineup for the opening night on Thursday October 27 as 'Voltage' takes on 2018 winner James Wade.

Dirk van Duijvenbode and Madars Razma will get the tournament underway, while UK Open champion Danny Noppert plays on the first night against Andrew Gilding. Number one seed Luke Humphries meets Krzysztof Ratajski, while Nathan Aspinall, Michael Smith and Damon Heta also feature on the opening night.

The top three on the PDC Order of Merit will all come into action on the second day. World number one Peter Wright faces Ryan Meikle, while Gerwyn Price opens his tournament against Rowby-John Rodriguez. Wright and Price could play each other in the second round when they come through their first game.

Four-time European Championship winner Michael van Gerwen takes on Chris Dobey. Former Premier League champion Jonny Clayton meets Gabriel Clemens, while the likes of José de Sousa, Dave Chisnall, Joe Cullen and Dimitri van den Bergh will also appear on the stage on Friday.

Following the conclusion of the first round, the last 16 will take place across two sessions on Saturday October 29, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper double-session on Sunday October 30.

Schedule 2022 European Championship

Thursday October 27 (1845 local time, 1745 BST)

8x First Round

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Madars Razma

Ryan Searle v Martin Lukeman

Danny Noppert v Andrew Gilding

Rob Cross v James Wade

Luke Humphries v Krzysztof Ratajski

Nathan Aspinall v Josh Rock

Michael Smith v Karel Sedlacek

Damon Heta v Vincent van der Voort

Friday October 28 (1845 local time, 1745 BST)

8x First Round

Dave Chisnall v Stephen Bunting

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Daryl Gurney

Joe Cullen v Ross Smith

Jose de Sousa v Martin Schindler

Peter Wright v Ryan Meikle

Gerwyn Price v Rowby-John Rodriguez

Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey

Jonny Clayton v Gabriel Clemens

Saturday October 29

Afternoon Session (1345 local time, 1245 BST)

4x Second Round

Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 BST)

4x Second Round

Sunday October 30

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Quarter-Finals

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Semi-Finals & Final