World Darts Championship draw: First & second round matches in full

Michael Smith will kick off the defence of his Paddy Power World Darts Championship title against Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz in round two.

Darts legends Dennis Priestley and Phil Taylor conducted the draw on Sky Sports News and paired last year’s losing finalist, Michael van Gerwen, with the winner of Keane Barry and Reynaldo Rivera’s meeting in the first round.

Luke Humphries is challenging MVG for favouritism in our outright betting and the emerging force is set to face Lee Evans or Sandro Eric Sosing in round two.

Paddy Power World Darts Championship odds can be found on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise live coverage of the draw including full details of the first round and second round pairings is below.

17:00 – Paddy Power World Darts Championship Round Two Draw

Michael Smith v Kevin Doets or Stowe BuntzMadars Razman v Mike De Decker or Dragutin HorvatRoss Smith v Niels Zonneveld or Darren WebsterChris Dobey v William O’Connor or Bhav PatelRob Cross v Mario Vandenbogaerde or Thibault TricoleJose De Sousa v Richie Edhouse or Jeffrey De GraafJonny Clayton v Steve Lennon or Owen BatesKrzysztof Ratajski v Jamie Hughes or David CameronPeter Wright v Jim Williams or Norman MadhooRaymond van Barneveld v Radek Szaganski or Marko KanteleJames Wade v Matt Campbell or Lourence IlaganAndrew Gilding v Christian Kist or Luke LittlerGerwyn Price v Connor Scutt r Krzystof KcuikBrendan Dolan v Mickey Mansell or Xiaochen ZongDirk van Duijvenbode v Keegan Brown or Boris KrcmarGary Anderson v Simon Whitlock or Paolo NebridaMichael van Gerwen v Keane Barry or Reynaldo RiveraKim Huybrechts v Richard Veenstra or Ben RobbDimitri van den Bergh v Dylan Slevin or Florian HempelStephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce or Alex SpellmanDanny Noppert v Scott Williams or Haruki MuramatsuMartin Schindler v Jermaine Wattimena or Fallon SherrockDamon Heta v Martin Lukeman or Haupai PuhaJosh Rock v Luke Woodhouse or Berry van PeerLuke Humphries v Lee Evans or Sandro Eric SosingCallan Rydz v Ricardo Pietreczko or Mikuru SuzukiJoe Cullen v Jules van Dongen or Darren PenhallRyan Searle v Ian White or Tomoya GotoNathan Aspinall v Ricky Evans or Simon AdamsDaryl Gurney v Steve Beaton or Wessel NijmanDavie Chisnall v Cameron Menzies or Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

Gabriel Clemens v Gian van Veen or Man Lok Leung

16:45 – Paddy Power World Darts Championship Round One Draw

Kevin Doets v Stowe BuntzMike De Decker v Dragutin HorvatNiels Zonneveld v Darren WebsterWilliam O’Connor v Bhav PatelMario Vandenbogaerde v Thibault TricoleRichie Edhouse v Jeffrey De GraafSteve Lennon v Owen BatesJamie Hughes v David CameronJim Williams v Norman MadhooRadek Szaganski v Marko KanteleMatt Campbell v Lourence IlaganChristian Kist v Luke LittlerConnor Scutt v Krzystof KcuikMickey Mansell v Xiaochen ZongKeegan Brown v Boris KrcmarSimon Whitlock v Paolo NebridaMichael van Gerwen v Keane Barry v Reynaldo RiveraRichard Veenstra v Ben RobbDylan Slevin v Florian HempelRyan Joyce v Alex SpellmanScott Williams v Haruki MuramatsuJermaine Wattimena v Fallon SherrockMartin Lukeman v Haupai PuhaLuke Woodhouse v Berry van PeerLee Evans v Sandro Eric SosingRicardo Pietreczko v Mikuru SuzukiJules van Dongen v Darren PenhallIan White v Tomoya GotoRicky Evans v Simon AdamsSteve Beaton v Wessel NijmanCameron Menzies v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

Gian van Veen v Man Lok Leung

16:30 – Here We Go!

The stage is set to and the balls are set to be plucked from the pot. Dennis Priestly and Phil Taylor are on standby to conduct the ceremony, while Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle says he has to calm down because he’s so excited.

So are we, Wayne. So are we.

16:15 – Paddy Power World Darts Championship odds

A bit of a battle is brewing for favouritism in our outright betting for the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Michael van Gerwen is the most famous name in the game and has collected the Sid Waddell Trophy on three previous occasions, but the Dutchman has been joined at the head of the market by Luke Humphries, who is the form player heading into the tournament after victories in the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals.

2021 winner Gerwyn Price, defending champion Michael Smith and two-time Ally Pally king Gary Anderson are also prominent in the betting.

15:45 – The Irish Takeover

Our fearless leader wants to make his mark on the Paddy Power World Darts Championship – and if you catch any of the action you’ll be able to tell that the Irish are in town!

As well as turning the Ally Pally green for the massive sporting occasion, we’ve unveiled a brand new dartboard featuring a green treble 20 – replacing the traditional red.

The boards have been produced by Winmau – the PDC’s official equipment supplier – and will sit at the centre of a stage illuminated by an electrifying green backdrop, representing the event’s world-famous live atmosphere.

It’s good to be green.

15:15 – The Players

A total of 96 players will take part in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship. The 32 leading players on the PDC Order of Merit get a bye to round two, which leaves the 32 ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers and 32 International Qualifiers to go to war in round one.

PDC Order of Merit Top 32

1 Michael Smith (England)2 Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands)3 Luke Humphries (England)4 Peter Wright (Scotland)5 Gerwyn Price (Wales)6 Nathan Aspinall (England)7 Danny Noppert (Netherlands)8 Rob Cross (England)9 Jonny Clayton (Wales)10 Damon Heta (Australia)11 Dave Chisnall (England)12 Dirk van Duijvenbode (Netherlands)13 James Wade (England)14 Joe Cullen (England)15 Dimitri Van den Bergh (Belgium)16 Ross Smith (England)17 Chris Dobey (England)18 Stephen Bunting (England)19 Ryan Searle (England)20 Andrew Gilding (England)21 Gary Anderson (Scotland)22 Gabriel Clemens (Germany)23 Josh Rock (Northern Ireland)24 Krzysztof Ratajski (Poland)25 Jose de Sousa (Portugal)26 Martin Schindler (Germany)27 Daryl Gurney (Northern Ireland)28 Brendan Dolan (Northern Ireland)29 Raymond van Barneveld (Netherlands)30 Callan Rydz (England)31 Kim Huybrechts (Belgium)

32 Madars Razma (Latvia)

ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers

Ricardo Pietreczko (Germany)Gian van Veen (Netherlands)Ryan Joyce (England)Luke Woodhouse (England)Mike De Decker (Belgium)Ian White (England)Jim Williams (Wales)Mario Vandenbogaerde (Belgium)Radek Szaganski (Poland)Richard Veenstra (Netherlands)Steve Beaton (England)Keane Barry (Ireland)Simon Whitlock (Australia)Kevin Doets (Netherlands)Matt Campbell (Canada)Connor Scutt (England)Martin Lukeman (England)Mickey Mansell (Northern Ireland)Dylan Slevin (Ireland)Steve Lennon (Ireland)William O’Connor (Ireland)Scott Williams (England)Christian Kist (Netherlands)Ricky Evans (England)Cameron Menzies (Scotland)Lee Evans (England)Ritchie Edhouse (England)Jermaine Wattimena (Netherlands)Jules van Dongen (USA)Jamie Hughes (England)Niels Zonneveld (Netherlands)

Keegan Brown (England)

International Qualifiers

Luke Littler (England)Wessel Nijman (Netherlands)Berry van Peer (Netherlands)Owen Bates (England)Fallon Sherrock (England)Mikuru Suzuki (Japan)Marko Kantele (Finland)Jeffrey de Graaf (Sweden)Haruki Muramatsu (Japan)Sandro Eric Sosing (Philippines)Lourence Ilagan (Philippines)Tomoya Goto (Japan)Paolo Nebrida (Philippines)Reynaldo Rivera (Philippines)Man Lok Leung (Hong Kong)Darren Penhall (Australia)Ben Robb (New Zealand)Haupai Puha (New Zealand)Alex Spellman (USA)David Cameron (Canada)Stowe Buntz (USA)Thibault Tricole (France)Krzysztof Kciuk (Poland)Dragutin Horvat (Germany)Simon Adams (South Africa)Xiaochen Zong (China)Norman Madhoo (Guyana)Bhav Patel (India)

Plus: 4x PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifiers

14:30 – Re-e-wind

Cast your mind back to the start of the year and you’ll remember Michael Smith faced Michael van Gerwen in a humdinger of a finale at Ally Pally. ‘Bully Boy’ emerged victorious to capture the Sid Waddell Trophy – and the £500,000 top prize – for the first time in his career.

Smith and Van Gerwen will be among the star names to watch out for in the draw – and the qualifiers will probably be hoping to avoid them in round two!

14:00 – Hello!

Well, hello there. The mercury has dropped, mince pies are starting to be consumed and Christmas adverts are all over the telly box which means one thing… the Paddy Power World Darts Championship is nearly here!

The near three weeks of fun begins at the legendary Alexandra Palace in London on Friday, December 15 and runs through to the grand final on Wednesday, January 3.

We’re still more than a fortnight until the first arrow is thrown in anger but the draw is crucial as those taking part discover their initial opponents.

Stay tuned for the latest updates as legendary pair Dennis Priestly and Phil Taylor conduct the draw from 4:30pm.