Main event
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson kicks off his campaign and competes against Geoffrey de Graaf tomorrow night.
Anderson, winner in 2015 and 2016, remains one of the most popular players in the game and will enjoy huge support from Alexandra Palace fans against Dutchman De Graaf.
The Flying Scotsman has won three events this season, but it was the defeat that gave him the inner belief that he could make a challenge at worlds.
Anderson led youngster Luke Littler to penalties in the first leg of the semi-final of the Grand Slam of Darts, and despite losing 16-15, he gained a lot from that encounter at Wolves last month.
The youngest wins the classic! 🤯
This is simply exceptional!
Luke Littler fights back from the brink to defeat Gary Anderson 16-15 in the EPIC Grand Slam semi-final in Wolverhampton!
Exciting from both players! 👏
📺 https://t.co/lkfAqflnXa #GSOD | sixth pic.twitter.com/ldSbWCnxfj
— Siham PDC (@OfficialPDC) November 17, 2024
He told the Daily Record: “It really got me going, right game, four legs on him, I had to keep my throw one time and I messed it up.
“Even then, I watched when Luke hit me, you could see a kind of relief in his face, so I went and pushed you. It's good, it gives me a little buzz and gives you a little bit of a flash. Little things give me a little adjustment and I need that to keep going. There are some bowlers Broken Arrows and it's still a good idea to play against them.
“If you look at his semi-finals and finals, it was a 54-year-old man that led him down that path. I love things like that, and I love to see, can I still play to their standards? That was the final touch of the night.” Great, and my recording wasn't very good.
De Graaf, ranked 81st in the world, defeated Rashad Sweeting 3-1 in the first round.
World number 11 Dimitri van den Berg follows Anderson on stage with Callan Reeds, who impressed in the opening match, as well as in the evening session.
Order of play
Afternoon session (from 12:30 GMT)
Ryan Searle vs. Matt Campbell (R2)
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Madras Razma (R2)
Joe Cullen vs. Wessel Niemann (R2)
Richie Edhouse vs. Ian White (R2)
Evening session (from 1900 GMT)
Martin Schindler vs. Callan Reeds (R2)
Ross Smith vs. Paulo Nebreda (R2)
Gary Anderson vs. Jeffrey De Graaf (R2)
Dimitri van den Berg vs. Dylan Slevin (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 from 12:30 GMT. The evening session is on Sky Sports Darts at 1900 and the main event is from 1915.
Predictions
Anderson should be better than De Graaf, as is Van den Berg against Slevin.
The closest contest could come between the Reds and world number 22 Schindler. Rydz has the ability to blow anyone away and should be admired despite being the outsider against the German.
Elsewhere, there should be victories for Searle, van Duijvenbode, Nyman, Eadhouse, and Smith.
