Monday 2 October 2017 00:36, UK
The World Grand Prix of Darts kicks off in Dublin on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm, as the world's top players take on the tournament's unique format.
For the last 19 years, the best in the tungsten business have challenged themselves by starting and finishing on a double, and for the last 17 of those the players have headed to Ireland with the Citywest Hotel in south Dublin succeeding Rosslare as the venue.
Unlike any other tournament on the circuit, players cannot get going until they hit a double and while the tournament throws up surprise finalists and big-name early casualties, the roll of honour proves that usually it's only very best who prevail.
Phil Taylor, absent this year, is an 11-time champion as he begins to wind down the final months of his illustrious career, while the current world No 1 Michael van Gerwen has four finals and three titles from the last five years.
But for every MVG and Power success, the tournament also gave us Robert Thornton as the champion in 2015 and runs to the final for Brendan Dolan, Dave Chisnall and Mervyn King, and Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle insists anyone who gets hot and trusts their doubling can find their way to the final.
I am always of the opinion that you get a player who is good at a double and no matter where they are in the world rankings if it works for them that week then I think they have got a chance.
The action gets underway on Sky Sports Arena on Sunday from 7pm and continues through the week until next Saturday's final, as the minor tweak of starting by hitting the dreaded outer-ring presents a whole new level of skill and pressure.
The top 16 in the PDC Order of Merit qualifying automatically and the remaining 16 places going to the top 16 non-qualified players from the Pro Tour.
Last year, Dutch superstar Van Gerwen claimed the title, but he'll be up against it to taste victory again although a favourable first-round draw against Scot John Henderson should pose few problems.
It looks a little tricky after that as Alan Norris or Justin Pipe could lie the round two with countryman Raymond van Barneveld his seeded quarter-final opponent.
There are several intriguing first-round matches and with some of the world's top 10 not in the greatest form, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Chisnall look vulnerable.
Jackpot, the two-time world champion and former Dublin finalist, has been below his best and will have to take on the crowd when he lines up against Daryl Gurney, who has enjoyed a fine year that has included a couple of major semi-finals and a first PDC title.
"It's one weekend that I don't have to visit an airport! For once, the other guys can travel to me so that's a relief," Gurney told Sky Sports.
Hopefully, I'll get home support in Dublin because it feels like a home tournament.
Chizzy meets Jelle Klaasen in a battle of two of this year's Premier League contenders while James Wade, not seeded this year has a tough test against Steve West, who knocked out Taylor last year, and Barney meets in-form Aussie Kyle Anderson.
Last year's runner-up Gary Anderson, who previously had never been comfortable with the format, takes on one of three debutants in the shape of Richard North with Rob Cross the most likely of the new boys to enjoy a run - he starts against Steve Beaton.
Peter Wright, who made darting history in Germany last Sunday night after winning his 10th PDC tournament of the year, kicks off his Grand Prix against former BDO world champion Stephen Bunting.
Elsewhere, 2015 Grand Prix winner Thornton faces Belgian flyer Kim Huybrechts, while the most recent major winner on the circuit and sixth seed Mensur Suljovic, begins against Ian White.
The first round takes place over two packed nights with eight matches scheduled for both Sunday and Monday, and in a race to two sets there's not time to get settled as we prepare for a thrilling weekend of darts!
The biggest names in darts will return to Dublin's Citywest Hotel from October 1-7 for the 2017 World Grand Prix and you will be able to watch all the action with us on Sky Sports.
Who will win the World Grand Prix at Dublin's Citywest Hotel this year? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting @SkySportsDarts or by using the comments box below - sign in with Facebook. Follow us on Twitter & use #LoveTheDarts
