Michael van Gerwen will take on Australia’s World Cup hero Simon Whitlock in the opening round of the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters, with the draw for Wollongong’s World Series of Darts event now confirmed.
The WIN Entertainment Centre will host the biggest names in world darts on August 19-20 for the New South Wales Darts Masters, as eight top PDC stars face off against eight Oceanic representatives.
Van Gerwen prevailed in Queensland last weekend to scoop his 17th World Series of Darts crown, and he will begin his bid for back-to-back titles against Whitlock in Friday’s headline clash.
Meanwhile, third seed and US Darts Masters winner Michael Smith will face top-ranked Australian Damon Heta, who guided Australia to their maiden World Cup success alongside Whitlock in June.
Top seed Dimitri Van den Bergh – victorious in Copenhagen and Amsterdam earlier this year – plays Australian qualifier Raymond O’Donnell in round one, as the Belgian sets his sights on a third World Series success of 2022.
World number one Gerwyn Price, runner-up to Van Gerwen in Queensland, opens his campaign against Perth-based New Zealander Koha Kokiri, who also featured in Townsville last weekend.
Ten-time TV title winner James Wade has drawn PDC Tour Card Holder Gordon Mathers, who defeated Fallon Sherrock and Smith to reach his first televised semi-final in Queensland last week.
Meanwhile, Women’s World Matchplay champion Sherrock meets World Series debutant Mal Cuming, a former Lakeside Championship qualifier.
Reigning World Series of Darts Finals champion Jonny Clayton will aim to avenge last week’s defeat to former World Cup quarter-finalist Haupai Puha, while Masters champion Joe Cullen takes on local qualifier Dave Marland for the second straight event.
Friday’s first round in Wollongong will be followed by the decisive final stages on Saturday, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a blockbuster session.
Following this weekend’s event, the World Series action then crosses the Tasman Sea for the TAB New Zealand Darts Masters at the Globox Arena, Hamilton, from August 26-27.
Coverage will be live on Fox Sports in Australia, as well as through the PDC’s global broadcast partners.
Live coverage through PDCTV is available for all subscribers worldwide outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (coverage exclusively via DAZN).
There is also a PDCTV Summer Pass option available for £10 which includes the remaining two World Series of Darts events during August.
ITV4 broadcasts in the UK will begin from 1900 BST on Friday and 1630 BST on Saturday.
PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters
Draw Bracket
(1) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Raymond O’Donnell
James Wade v Gordon Mathers
(4) Gerwyn Price v Koha Kokiri
Fallon Sherrock v Mal Cuming
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Simon Whitlock
Joe Cullen v Dave Marland
(3) Michael Smith v Damon Heta
Jonny Clayton v Haupai Puha
Schedule of Play
Friday August 19 (1900 local time, 1000 BST)
First Round
Joe Cullen v Dave Marland
James Wade v Gordon Mathers
Jonny Clayton v Haupai Puha
Fallon Sherrock v Mal Cuming
Gerwyn Price v Koha Kokiri
Michael Smith v Damon Heta
Michael van Gerwen v Simon Whitlock
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Raymond O’Donnell
Best of 11 legs
Saturday August 20 (1900 local time, 1000 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
ENDS
Images: PDC
