The 2021 Cazoo European Championship gets underway on Thursday in Salzburg with 32 of the world's stars in action across four days.
Peter Wright will be defending the title he won for the first time in Oberhausen in 2020, with former champions Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Rob Cross and Simon Whitlock also among the 32-player field.
The tournament's 14th staging will see the top 32 players from the 2021 European Tour Order of Merit in action across six sessions from October 14-17 at the Salzburgarena, with £500,000 in prize money up for grabs.
The first round sees 16 matches take place across the opening two sessions on Thursday and Friday, as Wright begins the defence of the title he won with an 11-4 defeat of Wade in last year's final.
The Scot's opening assignment will see him face rising German star Florian Hempel, with Wright looking to bounce back from a first round exit to Cross at the World Grand Prix last week.
"Obviously it was disappointing to lose in the first round last week," Wright admitted. "But fair play to Rob, he played great to beat me.
"But that's gone now and I'm glad we have a short turnaround to the European Championship.
"Last year this tournament was great for me personally, I averaged well over 100 in all of my games so it will go down as one of my best tournament performances.
"It would be great if I could retain my title, but I know I've got a tough first round draw against Florian, who will be looking to show what he can do on the big stage."
Thursday's opening night will begin with 2012 champion Simon Whitlock in action against Scotland's William Borland, while 2019 winner Cross takes on Irish teenage debutant Keane Barry.
Jose de Sousa, who hit a nine-darter in last year's tournament, will take on Welsh youngster Lewis Williams, while Luke Humphries and Callan Rydz meet in a contest between two of the sport's rising stars.
Friday's second night will see a further eight round one matches take place, with top seed Price, a winner of both this year's European Tour events in Hungary and Gibraltar, up against Ritchie Edhouse.
Four-time winner Van Gerwen will face Croatia's Boris Krcmar, 2018 champion James Wade meets Adam Smith-Neale, and Hungarian Darts Trophy runner-up Michael Smith will face Ryan Searle in a repeat of their meeting at July's World Matchplay.
The tournament will then continue with the second round across two sessions on Saturday October 16, ahead of Sunday's decisive final stages.
Tickets are on sale now through PDC Europe – CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS.
To gain entry to the venue, all fans will be required to show proof of a completed approved Covid-19 vaccination, proof of recovery from Covid-19 or a negative Covid-19 test.
The tournament will be broadcast live on ITV4, through the PDC's international broadcast partners including DAZN and RTL7, through PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers and via matchroom.live.
2021 Cazoo European Championship
Thursday October 14
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 BST)
First Round x8
Simon Whitlock v William Borland
Brendan Dolan v Kim Huybrechts
Rob Cross v Keane Barry
Luke Humphries v Callan Rydz
Jose de Sousa v Lewis Williams
Peter Wright v Florian Hempel
Mensur Suljovic v Adam Hunt
Joe Cullen v Ted Evetts
Friday October 15
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 BST)
First Round x8
Adam Gawlas v Joe Murnan
Krzysztof Ratajski v Danny Noppert
James Wade v Adam Smith-Neale
Nathan Aspinall v Mervyn King
Michael Smith v Ryan Searle
Michael van Gerwen v Boris Krcmar
Gerwyn Price v Ritchie Edhouse
Damon Heta v Gabriel Clemens
Saturday October 16
Afternoon Session (1345 local time, 1245 BST)
Second Round x4
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 BST)
Second Round x4
Sunday October 17
Afternoon Session (1345 local time, 1245 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 BST)
Semi-Finals & Final
Draw Bracket
(1) Gerwyn Price v (32) Ritchie Edhouse
(16) Adam Gawlas v (17) Joe Murnan
(8) Michael van Gerwen v (25) Boris Krcmar
(9) James Wade v (24) Adam Smith-Neale
(4) Michael Smith v (29) Ryan Searle
(13) Krzysztof Ratajski v (20) Danny Noppert
(5) Nathan Aspinall v (28) Mervyn King
(12) Damon Heta v (21) Gabriel Clemens
(2) Mensur Suljovic v (31) Adam Hunt
(15) Peter Wright v (18) Florian Hempel
(7) Simon Whitlock v (26) William Borland
(10) Joe Cullen v (23) Ted Evetts
(3) Brendan Dolan v (30) Kim Huybrechts
(14) Rob Cross v (19) Keane Barry
(6) Jose de Sousa v (27) Lewis Williams
(11) Luke Humphries v (22) Callan Rydz
Format
First Rounds - Best of 11 legs
Second Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs
Prize Fund
Winner - £120,000
Runner-Up - £60,000
Semi-Finalists - £32,000
Quarter-Finalists - £20,000
Second Round Losers - £10,000
First Round Losers - £6,000
Total - £500,000
