VAN GERWEN TO OPEN WORLD SERIES FINALS DEFENCE ON BLOCKBUSTER OPENING NIGHT

Michael van Gerwen will headline the opening night of the 2024 Jack's World Series of Darts Finals as he begins his title against Jonny Clayton on Friday September 13.

Reigning champion Van Gerwen takes on 2021 champion Clayton in a mouth-watering clash in one of 16 first round clashes to take place across Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

An expanded 32-player field will compete for the title and a share of £400,000 in prize money from September 13-15 at AFAS Live, with play split across five sessions.

Friday's opening night will also see top seed Luke Littler in action against Ross Smith, while NZ Masters champion Luke Humphries - the reigning World Champion - takes on New Zealand's number one Haupai Puha.

Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld will face Johan Engstrom, NZ Masters runner-up Damon Heta meets German number one Gabriel Clemens and 2019 runner-up Danny Noppert plays rising star Gian van Veen.

Saturday's afternoon session sees Australian Masters winner Gerwyn Price up against in-form Scot Cameron Menzies, while US Masters champion Rob Cross takes on Simon Whitlock as the players in the bottom half of the draw take to the stage.

2022 runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode meets Daryl Gurney, two-time finalist Peter Wright faces Dave Chisnall and Nathan Aspinall makes his return against young Dutch talent Wessel Nijman.

The second round will take place on Saturday night, with the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon ahead of the semi-finals and final in Sunday's decisive evening session.

alists - £17,500

Second Round Losers - £10,000

First Round Losers - £5,000

Total - £400,000