Michael van Gerwen to face Jan Dekker at European Championship in Belgium
World No 1 aims for fourth successive European Championship title
Monday 30 October 2017 15:48, UK
Michael van Gerwen will begin his bid to win a fourth successive European Championship title with an all-Dutch tie against Jan Dekker in Belgium.
World No 1 Van Gerwen has claimed European Championship glory for the past three years, including last year's crushing 11-1 win over Mensur Suljovic in the final with a record-breaking display.
Van Gerwen has won six of this year's 12 European Tour events to earn the top seeding for the European Championship in Hasselt, which will be held at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt from October 26-29.
He will face Dutchman Dekker on the opening night of the tournament, with the former PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour event winner having qualified for his European Championship debut this year.
Two other all-Dutch ties see Jelle Klaasen take on Christian Kist in a battle of former Lakeside Champions, while Benito van de Pas takes on Vincent van der Voort.
Number two seed Peter Wright, who has won five European Tour events this year, will play Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski, while Gibraltar Darts Trophy champion Michael Smith, seeded third, takes on debutant Nathan Aspinall.
Suljovic will begin his challenge at the Ethias Arena against Belgium's Kim Huybrechts, who could face brother Ronny in round two if the elder sibling can overcome Gerwyn Price in their first-round tie.
The tournament's other Belgian qualifier, Dimitri Van den Bergh, drew Welsh debutant Jonny Clayton, while World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney plays 2009 finalist Steve Beaton.
2012 European Championship winner Simon Whitlock drew James Richardson, while Joe Cullen drew Stephen Bunting and debutants Rob Cross - the sixth seed - and Martin Schindler also clash.
Ian White drew Darren Webster, Alan Norris plays Mervyn King and John Henderson takes on Kyle Anderson, while Dave Chisnall comes up against Spain's Cristo Reyes.
Schedule of Play
Thursday October 26 (7pm UK time)
First Round
Gerwyn Price v Ronny Huybrechts
Alan Norris v Mervyn King
Ian White v Darren Webster
John Henderson v Kyle Anderson
Simon Whitlock (8) v James Richardson
Mensur Suljovic (4) v Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Jan Dekker
Jelle Klaasen (5) v Christian Kist
Friday October 27
Afternoon Session (12.45pm UK time)
First Round
Jonny Clayton v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Dave Chisnall v Cristo Reyes
Benito van de Pas v Vincent van der Voort
Daryl Gurney v Steve Beaton
Michael Smith (3) v Nathan Aspinall
Rob Cross (6) v Martin Schindler
Joe Cullen (7) v Stephen Bunting
Peter Wright (2) v Krzysztof Ratajski
Evening Session (7pm UK time)
Second Round
Klaasen/Kist v Henderson/Anderson
Whitlock/Richardson v Norris/King
Van Gerwen/Dekker v White/Webster
Suljovic/K Huybrechts v Price/R Huybrechts
Saturday October 28 (7pm UK time)
Second Round
Smith/Aspinall v Van de Pas/Can der Voort
Cross/Schindler v Chisnall/Reyes
Cullen/Bunting v Gurney/Beaton
Wright/Ratajski v Clayton/Van den Bergh
Sunday October 29
Afternoon Session (12.45pm UK time)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (7pm UK time)
Semi-Finals
Final
The Grand Slam of Darts gets underway on Sky Sports next month as the best of the PDC compete against the best of the BDO - the action from the Wolverhampton Civic Hall begins on Saturday, November 11 with a double session.
Keep up to date with the news as the tungsten enters it's busiest time of year with the PDC World Championships just around the corner get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts.
