World Matchplay 2024 draw: Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Littler & Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson in first round crackers

The draw for the 2024 World Matchplay has produced an absolute cracker between Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler. For the 17-year-old Littler, it will be a baptism of fire at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Littler is darts' new rising star. After a blistering World Championship campaign, Littler won the Premier League Darts, a World Series title, two Euro Tours and a Players Championship tournament in his first six months on the PDC circuit. Along with world champion Luke Humphries, Littler is one of two top favorites to win the World Matchplay.

The stakes are pretty high for Van Gerwen at the World Matchplay. The Dutchman managed to win the tournament in Blackpool in 2022. So that means 'Mighty Mike' will have to defend the prize money he earned then on the world rankings this year. A defeat in the first round would cause Van Gerwen to lose nearly 20 percent of his amount on the PDC Order of Merit.

The draw between Van Gerwen and Littler did ensure that Humphries could theoretically face his two biggest rivals only in the final. 'Cool Hand Luke' leads the seeding list in Blackpool and was paired with Ricardo Pietreczko.

Another top affair for the first round is the clash between Gary Anderson and Michael Smith. Anderson was 'Bullyboy's mentor in the past, and managed to add the World Matchplay to his record in 2018.

The 31st edition of the World Matchplay will take place from July 13 to 21. Nathan Aspinall is the defending champion in Blackpool. 'The Asp' won 18-6 over Jonny Clayton in last year's final. The defending champion begins his tournament against rookie Luke Woodhouse.

(1) Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko

(16) Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce

(8) Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld

(9) Dimitri van den Bergh v Martin Schindler

(4) Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney

(13) Ross Smith v Josh Rock

(5) Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse

(12) Danny Noppert v James Wade

(2) Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler

(15) Joe Cullen v Brendan Dolan

(7) Dave Chisnall v Krzysztof Ratajski

(10) Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding

(3) Michael Smith v Gary Anderson

(14) Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse

(6) Rob Cross v Gian van Veen

(11) Damon Heta v Ryan Searle