World number one Gerwyn Price will begin his bid for a second World Championship crown on Monday December 19, as the Welshman looks to repeat his 2021 heroics in the capital.
Luke Woodhouse or Vladyslav Omelchenko await Price in round two, and the 37-year-old has his sights set on becoming the seventh player to win multiple PDC World Championship titles.
“I always think I’m going to win every tournament I go in to, so does Peter [Wright] and so does Michael [van Gerwen],” claimed Price – the top seed at this year’s event.
“It’s nice to win the World Championship once, but to become multiple World Champion – that’s my next goal, and there’s no reason I can’t win another three or four before I retire.
“I know what it’s like to win the World Championship, but I don’t know what it’s like to win it in front of a big crowd, with celebrations and family there, so that’s a big drive for me now.”
Women’s World Matchplay winner Fallon Sherrock will make her Alexandra Palace return against Ricky Evans on Tuesday December 20, before Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld gets his 30th World Championship appearance underway.
Van Barneveld – fresh from reaching last month’s Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals – will be the 32nd seed in his milestone appearance – matching the position from which he won the 2006/07 World Championship at the Circus Tavern.
“30 World Championships, wow! This sport has changed my life,” reflected Van Barneveld, who will play Ryan Meikle or Ashton for a place in the third round.
“The World Championship is the big one. This is the one you want to win. You want to perform well.
“I’m in the top 32 now, and I’m proud of myself. I am really happy, and if you feel happy, then anything is possible.”
Alongside the £500,000 top prize for the eventual champion, players will again be competing to win a special £50,000 bonus on offer from PDC partner Selco, for the first player to hit two nine-dart finishes in this year’s event.
Should a player achieve that feat – which would be a World Championship first – a further £50,000 would be shared between one lucky fan who registered via www.selcobw.com/info/100kdarts and Selco’s nominated charity, Cancer Research UK.
The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
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Images: PDC
