World Grand Prix Darts: Michael van Gerwen to open defence of his title against Josh Rock

Michael van Gerwen bids to retain his East Midlands title but faces a tough opening test against rising star Josh Rock | We’re back for the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester from October 2 to 8 – live on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen opens his bid to claim a seventh World Grand Prix title against darts rising star Josh Rock after the draw for the doubles tournament – live on Sky Sports.

Van Gerwen won his sixth World Grand Prix title, beating Nathan Aspinall 5-3 in last year’s final, but he faces a tough start against rising Rock.

World Youth Champion Rock, 22, who tops the list of 16 ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers, will catch the Dutchman in a repeat of their Grand Slam of Darts epic last November when the County Antrim ace hit a nine-dart finish in a 10-8 defeat.

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Rock surprised MVG with this nine-darter at the Grand Slam of Darts before Van Gerwen won a classic

World champion Michael Smith, looking for his first doubles title, opens his account against ‘The Riot’ Callan Rydz, while 2018 runner-up Peter Wright takes on German Gabriel Clemens, who made a historically stunning run to the semi-finals of the World Championship . final at Alexandra Palace in January.

Former champions Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton take on Danny Noppert and Ross Smith respectively, while World Matchplay champion Aspinall takes on Stephen Bunting.

Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld – finalist in 2008 and 2009 – will make his return to the World Grand Prix after a five-year break against Martin Schindler, with two-time world champion Gary Anderson taking on ‘The Special One’ Jose de Sousa.

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Highlights from last year’s final, in which Van Gerwen won despite a tough pushback from Aspinall

The tie

(1) Michael Smith vs. Callan Rydz

Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Brendan Dolan

(8) Rob Cross vs. Andrew Gilding

Jose de Sousa vs Gary Anderson

(4) Gerwyn Price vs. Danny Noppert

Krzysztof Ratajski vs. James Wade

(5) Nathan Aspinall vs. Stephen Bunting

Martin Schindler against Raymond van Barneveld

(2) Michael van Gerwen vs. Josh Rock

Dimitri Van den Bergh against Chris Dobey

(7) Jonny Clayton vs. Ross Smith

Joe Cullen vs. Mike De Decker

(3) Peter Wright vs. Gabriel Clemens

Damon Heta vs. Ryan Searle

(6) Luke Humphries vs. Daryl Gurney

Dave Chisnall vs. Luke Woodhouse

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MVG won its sixth World Grand Prix trophy in Leicester last year

Session schedule

Monday October 2 (6 p.m.)

First round x8
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Brendan Dolan
Jose de Sousa vs Gary Anderson
Krzysztof Ratajski vs. James Wade
Martin Schindler against Raymond van Barneveld
Nathan Aspinall vs. Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price vs. Danny Noppert
Michael Smith vs. Callan Rydz
Rob Cross vs. Andrew Gilding

Tuesday October 3 (6 p.m.)

First round x8
Joe Cullen vs. Mike De Decker
Dave Chisnall vs. Luke Woodhouse
Damon Heta vs. Ryan Searle
Dimitri Van den Bergh against Chris Dobey
Peter Wright vs. Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen vs. Josh Rock
Jonny Clayton vs. Ross Smith
Luke Humphries vs. Daryl Gurney

Wednesday, October 4 (7 p.m.).

Second round x4 – Match order to be determined
M Smith/Rydz versus Van Duijvenbode/Dolan
Cross/gilding versus De Sousa/Anderson
Price/Noppert vs. Ratajski/Wade
Aspinall/Bunting versus Schindler/Van Barneveld

Thursday October 5 (7 p.m.)

Second round x4 – Match order to be determined
Van Gerwen/Rock versus Van den Bergh/Dobey
Clayton/R Smith vs. Cullen/De Decker
Wright/Clemens vs. Heta/Searle
Humphries/Gurney vs Chisnall/Woodhouse

Friday October 6 (7 p.m.)
Quarterfinals

Saturday October 7 (8 p.m.)
Semi-finals

Sunday October 8 (8 p.m.)
Last

Format

First round – Best of three sets
Second Round – Best of Five Sets
Quarter Finals – Best of Five Sets
Semi-finals – Best of Seven Sets
Final – Best of Nine Sets

• All sets are Best of Five Legs.
• All games have a double start and a double finish, meaning players must hit a double before they can start scoring in each leg. The rose counts as double 25.
• There will be no tie-break in any match; the ‘deciding set’ would end at 3-2, with the fifth leg being the deciding leg.

We’re back for the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester from October 2 to 8 – live on Sky Sports. Stream all your favorite sports with NOW