World champions MVG and Anderson to collide as World Grand Prix draw is made
Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson will collide in a blockbuster tie after the draw for the upcoming World Grand Prix darts in was made.
The draw for the unique double-start event, which will be played at the Morningside Arena in Leicester from October 3-9, pits five-time champion Van Gerwen against 2016 runner-up Anderson, the highest ranked unseeded player in the field.
Jonny Clayton, who lifted the World Grand Prix title for the first time in 2021, will begin his campaign against 2020 finalist Dirk Van Duijvenbode, a World Series Finals runner-up earlier this month. World number one Gerwyn Price will take on Martin Schindler – one of three debutants in this year’s tournament – as the Welshman bids to repeat his 2020 triumph in the £600,000 event.
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World champion Peter Wright begins his bid for a maiden World Grand Prix crown against Kim Huybrechts, while fourth seed Michael Smith faces Nathan Aspinall in another stellar showdown.
Two-time winner James Wade has drawn debutant Martin Lukeman, while Masters champion Joe Cullen is up against Australia’s number one Damon Heta, with both ties a repeat of this year’s World Matchplay first round.
World number six Jose de Sousa meets 2010 finalist Adrian Lewis, eighth seed Rob Cross plays 2017 champion Daryl Gurney, and Dimitri Van den Bergh takes on two-time finalist Dave Chisnall, the newly-crowned Belgian Darts Open champion.
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UK Open champion Danny Noppert locks horns with German number one Gabriel Clemens, while four-time European Tour title winner Luke Humphries faces 2019 semi-finalist Chris Dobey.
Elsewhere, 2011 runner-up Brendan Dolan has been pitted against former Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting, and World Championship quarter-finalist Callan Rydz will play Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski.
The remaining ties will see Ryan Searle take on Madars Razma, while Ross Smith faces Belgian Darts Open finalist Andrew Gilding.
First round draw and schedule
Monday, October 3 (7pm BST)
Callan Rydz v Krzysztof Ratajski
Brendan Dolan v Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey v Luke Humphries
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Dave Chisnall
(7) Jonny Clayton v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(2) Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
(3) Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
(6) Jose de Sousa v Adrian Lewis
Tuesday, October 4 (7pm BST)
Madars Razma v Ryan Searle
Ross Smith v Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert v Gabriel Clemens
Joe Cullen v Damon Heta
(8) Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
(5) James Wade v Martin Lukeman
(1) Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler
(4) Michael Smith v Nathan Aspinall
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