Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen takes to the Ally Pally stage on Friday night in what should be a blockbuster night at the World Championship of Darts.
Van Gerwen – PDC winner in 2014, 2017 and 2019 – has slowed down in recent years, but the 35-year-old is still ranked third in the world and is a real threat again.
He will face James Hurrell in the second round in the final match of day six, a quarter-final in 2022.
The big game of the afternoon sees the crowd Stephen Bunting take on Kai Gotthardt.
𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐡𝐦𝐩𝐢𝝨𝐧𝐬𝐢 𝐬𝐬𝐬! 🏆🎯 Time to level up and fight for that iconic trophy again. 💚 Let’s make it unforgettable. Who’s ready? Let’s do this! pic.twitter.com/Ms3tNGXRhf
— Michael Van Gerwen (@MvG180) December 15, 2024
Bunting, 39, has never gone beyond the semi-final stage at the PDC but will be hoping to get through to the third round with little fuss.
Game series
Afternoon session (from 12:30 GMT)
Stephen Burton v Alex Merkx (R1)
Wessel Nijman v Cameron Carolissen (R1)
Ian White v Sandro Sosing (R1)
Stephen Bunting v Kai Gotthardt (R2)
Afternoon session (from 19:00 GMT)
Mickey Mansell v Tomoya Goto (R1)
Florian Hempel v Jeffrey de Zwaan (R1)
William O’Connor v Dylan Slevin (R1)
Michael van Gerwen v James Hurrell (R2)
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is shown on Sky Sports in the UK.
You can watch the afternoon session on Sky Sports Darts and Main Event from 12:30 GMT, with the evening session on both channels from 19:00.
Predictions
Routine wins up front for Bunding and Van Gerwen, who is hungry to reclaim his title on the biggest stage.
