Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen takes to the Ally Pally stage on Friday night in what should be a blockbuster evening at the World Darts championship.
Van Gerwen โ winner of the PDC in 2014, 2017 and 2019 โ has had his momentum slowed in recent years but the 35-year-old is still ranked three in the world and poses a real threat again.
He takes on James Hurrell in the second round in the final match of day six, a quarter-finalist back in 2022.
The big game in the afternoon sees the hugely popula Stephen Bunting face off against Kai Gotthardt.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ค! ๐๐ฏ Time to step up and fight for that iconic trophy again. ๐ Letโs make it unforgettable. Whoโs ready? Letโs do this! pic.twitter.com/Ms3tNGXRhf
โ 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 move into round three with little fuss.
Order of Play
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)
Evening session (from 19:00 GMT)
Mickey Mansell v Tomoya Goto (R1)
Florian Hempel v Jeffrey de Zwaan (R1)
William OโConnor v Dylan Slevin (R1)
Michael van Gerwen v James Hurrell (R2)
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is being screened 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 ahead for Bunting and Van Gerwen, who is hungry to regain his title on the biggest stage.
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