Schedule Saturday evening session at the 2021 Masters featuring Wright, Price and Van Gerwen

The world champion and the world number one will feature on Saturday evening at the Masters. Sorry, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright; Gerwyn Price is both of them.

It's a new era in darts; you'd have to hark back to 2014 for the last time Van Gerwen wasn't in top spot, in the halcyon days where Adrian Lewis was the UK Open champion. That was the last time Jackpot won a major title, so if anyone could do with harking back to the old times, it's him.

As Price ascended to the world champions' guild, it was Gary Anderson who was left to ruefully ponder on what could've been. The two-time world champion seems to have a renewed vigour for the game, even promising to practice more, so it's hard to imagine that his last chance of a third world title has been and gone. These two have met in all sorts of different scenarios, including two world finals, though this will hopefully be their final lockdown duel.

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Peter Wright didn't get to enjoy his year at world champion in front of crowds, bar the odd appearance. One tournament attended by the public in 2020 was the Masters, which Snakebite won. A defence would be a nice way to get the world number three back on the road to a possible second world title.

For now, all Wright has to think about is negotiating a tricky tie against Simon Whitlock. The Wizard's back in form and feeling good, exemplified by a 6-2 rout of Krzysztof Ratajski on Friday night. Can Whitlock muscle in on the Premier League candidacy? It's not fully out of the question - the entertainment value has never been in doubt. After ending a run of six straight Masters defeats, beating Wright here would mark the first time Whitlock has won multiple matches at one Masters event.

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The world champion is back in business. Gerwyn Price has hit the zenith of any dart player's career, but it's just the start of a bigger challenge, which is staying there. Just ask Rob Cross and Adrian Lewis - becoming world champion doesn't necessarily bring sunshine and rainbows. Even if this doesn't go well, Price is unlikely to be deterred. That being said, a first Masters title will be another quiver in the Iceman's bow.

It's great to see Joe Cullen in full flow. Stephen Bunting won't have appreciated it too much while falling to a 6-4 defeat on Friday, but generally it's a real positive to see the Rockstar playing with confidence, even after the body blow of that last-gasp World Championship defeat to Michael van Gerwen. There's nothing to lose here for Cullen really, with others further ahead in the Premier League race, but beating the champ would turn a lot of heads in his direction.

While Price aims to stay in top spot, Michael van Gerwen is leading the charge to usurp the new world champion. Another equipment change might lead to an adjustment period, and there's been the suggestion that Mighty Mike doesn't strike fear into the hearts of his opponents any more, so 2021 will be a brand new challenge for the Dutchman. He's got the quality and mentality to reclaim his throne, but all of a sudden it doesn't feel like Van Gerwen holds all the cards.

The warning shot across Van Gerwen's bows came a year back, when a run of five straight Masters titles were ended in style by Jonny Clayton. Now, we've come full circle, and he meets the newly minted World Cup winner again, this time with the aim of taking the title back from Peter Wright. If this were some sort of Rocky-esque movie, a humbled MVG would rally and storm back to the top. Darts has had some storybook moments, but it's definitely not that easy.

2021 Masters Schedule

Saturday January 30 (1900 GMT)

Second Round

19:10 Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis

20:10 Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock

21:10 Gerwyn Price v Joe Cullen

22:10 Michael van Gerwen v Jonny Clayton