World Grand Prix 2020: Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Rob Cross feature on day one
Watch live coverage of all seven days of the World Grand Prix on Sky Sports Arena - the action begins on Tuesday October 6 from 6pm
Tuesday 29 September 2020 14:02, UK
Michael van Gerwen will kick off the defence of his World Grand Prix crown against Krzysztof Ratajski, while Gary Anderson will face fellow former world champion Rob Cross in a high-profile first-round match.
Monday's draw threw up a host of cracking opening matches to kick off the year's latest televised ranking event and everywhere you look on day one, there are eyecatching encounters.
Live World Grand Prix Darts
World No 1 Van Gerwen has not enjoyed the best of returns to the TV stage, losing in the second round of the World Matchplay and failing to reach the top four in the Premier League for the first time in his career.
But he has won the Grand Prix, with its unique double-to-start format, on five occasions and has reached the final on six of his last eight appearances, beating Peter Wright to lift the trophy last year.
His first-round opponent is rapidly-emerging Polish star Ratajski, and the pair will be the penultimate match on Tuesday evening before a blockbuster between Michael Smith and newly crowned World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh closes the opening night.
Adrian Lewis and Chris Dobey will kick off the tournament, while debutants Ryan Searle, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Jose De Sousa and the PDC's newest winner Devon Petersen are also in action alongside former champion James Wade who meets former finalist Mervyn King.
On Wednesday's second night of action, two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall takes on Premier League table-topper Glen Durrant and the third former champion in the draw - Daryl Gurney - meets Joe Cullen on a night that also features two of the world's top three.
World champion Peter Wright takes on another debutant in Ryan Joyce, while Gerwyn Price, winner of three titles in the last fortnight will take on quickfire Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena.
World Grand Prix - Schedule of Play
Tuesday October 6 (6pm)
First Round (x8)
Adrian Lewis vs Chris Dobey
Danny Noppert vs Ryan Searle
Mensur Suljovic vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jose De Sousa vs Devon Petersen
James Wade vs Mervyn King
Rob Cross vs Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael Smith vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wednesday October 7 (6pm)
First Round (x8)
Brendan Dolan vs Kim Huybrechts
Jamie Hughes vs Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton vs Ian White
Dave Chisnall vs Glen Durrant
Daryl Gurney vs Joe Cullen
Peter Wright vs Ryan Joyce
Gerwyn Price vs Jermaine Wattimena
Nathan Aspinall vs Gabriel Clemens
Thursday October 8 (7pm)
Second Round (x4)
Friday October 9 (7pm)
Second Round (x4)
Saturday October 10 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals (x4)
Sunday October 11 (7pm)
Semi-Finals (x2)
Monday October 12 (8pm)
Final
Draw Bracket
Top Half
(1) Michael van Gerwen vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Jose De Sousa vs Devon Petersen
(8) James Wade vs Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis vs Chris Dobey
(4) Michael Smith vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Mensur Suljovic vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
(5) Rob Cross vs Gary Anderson
Danny Noppert vs Ryan Searle
Bottom Half
(2) Peter Wright vs Ryan Joyce
Dave Chisnall vs Glen Durrant
(7) Daryl Gurney vs Joe Cullen
Jonny Clayton vs Ian White
(3) Gerwyn Price vs Jermaine Wattimena
Brendan Dolan vs Kim Huybrechts
(6) Nathan Aspinall vs Gabriel Clemens
Jamie Hughes vs Stephen Bunting
Darts returns to Sky Sports in October with the World Grand Prix and the Premier League Play-Offs. Follow us @SkySportsDarts to stay up to date with all the news.
