Michael van Gerwen and James Wade will make their return to PDC European Tour action at the HappyBet European Darts Trophy in Muelheim this weekend. The pair missed last weekend’s International Darts Open in Riesa due to injury and illness respectively, although both are fit to participate at the RWE Arena.
Van Gerwen and Wade have both tasted success on the European Tour in 2016, and MvG could face a second-round clash with former World-Youth champion Keegan Brown. ‘The Machine’ will meet either Ritchie Edhouse, or former major semi-finalist Justin Pipe on Saturday afternoon.
However, one man who won’t be competing in Muelheim is Dutch Darts Masters finalist Daryl Gurney, who remains sidelined with a broken finger. The Northern Irishman was forced to pull out of last weekend’s event due to his injury, and he will be replaced by a fifth home-nation qualifier.
Thursday evening will see five German players come through the Host Nation Qualifier, with the main event commencing on Friday as the 32 qualifiers face off.
One of the ties of the first-round will see the veteran Mervyn King take on Belgian hotshot Dimitri van den Bergh, whilst Andy Smith takes on Robbie Green. Elsewhere, German Darts Masters semi-finalist Joe Cullen will take on new-dad Jamie Lewis, who welcomed daughter Jorgie into the world on Thursday morning.
In Saturday’s second-round, ninth Jelle Klaasen could meet his compatriot Vincent van der Voort, if the imposing Dutchman can overcome one of the host-nation qualifiers on Friday.
Mensur Suljovic, who won his maiden PDC title at the International Darts Open last weekend, will meet either Vincent Kamphuis or Ronny Huybrechts in Saturday’s second-round. Meanwhile, Kim Huybrechts, who suffered final heartbreak in Riesa, will aim to make amends as he faces either Kyle Anderson or Darren Webster.
Second seed Peter Wright will face either Andy Smith or Green on Saturday, whilst fifth seed Dave Chisnall could be faced with a difficult tie against Jamie Caven. Three-time European Tour winner Michael Smith locks horns with King or van den Bergh in the last 32, whilst Ian White takes on either Devon Petersen or Matthew Dennant.
Two-time PDC ranking winner Benito van de Pas clashes with Players Championship winner Josh Payne or Spanish star Cristo Reyes, whereas World Grand-Prix champion Robert Thornton will take on either Janos Vegso or a host-nation qualifier.
Twelfth seed Gerwyn Price will meet either Simon Stevenson or Jermaine Wattimena in round-two, whilst nine-time major finalist Terry Jenkins plays Joe Murnan or Zoran Lerchbacher at the same stage.
The winner of the all-veterans clash between Andy Jenkins and Steve West will meet former Lakeside finalist Alan Norris, whilst former world champion Stephen Bunting faces a tough task against either Cullen or Jamie Lewis.
In addition, 16th seed Simon Whitlock could meet quick-fire Ricky Evans on Saturday evening, in a repeat of their memorable World Championship clash last year, where Evans recovered from 2-0 down to dump out ‘The Wizard’ in round one.
The full draw and tournament bracket for this weekend’s HappyBet European Darts Trophy can be found below.
HappyBet European Darts Trophy
Tournament Draw Bracket
James Wade (3) v Ritchie Edhouse/Justin Pipe
Alan Norris (14) v Andy Jenkins/Steve West
Michael Smith (6) v Mervyn King/Dimitri Van den Bergh
Robert Thornton (11) v Janos Vegso/HNQ1
Ian White (7) v Devon Petersen/Matthew Dennant
Mensur Suljovic (10) v Ronny Huybrechts/Vincent Kamphuis
Peter Wright (2) v Andy Smith/Robbie Green
Stephen Bunting (15) v Joe Cullen/Jamie Lewis
Kim Huybrechts (4) v Kyle Anderson/Darren Webster
Terry Jenkins (13) v Joe Murnan/Zoran Lerchbacher
Dave Chisnall (5) v Jamie Caven v HNQ2
Gerwyn Price (12) v Simon Stevenson/Jermaine Wattimena
Benito van de Pas (8) v Josh Payne/Cristo Reyes
Jelle Klaasen v HNQ5/Vincent van der Voort
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Keegan Brown/HNQ3
Simon Whitlock (16) v HNQ4/Ricky Evans
Friday September 9
First Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Joe Murnan v Zoran Lerchbacher
Ronny Huybrechts v Vincent Kamphuis
Janos Vegso v HNQ1
Josh Payne v Cristo Reyes
Andy Smith v Robbie Green
Keegan Brown v HNQ3
Mervyn King v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Ritchie Edhouse v Justin Pipe
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Simon Stevenson v Jermaine Wattimena
HNQ4 v Ricky Evans
Andy Jenkins v Steve West
Kyle Anderson v Darren Webster
Jamie Caven v HNQ2
Devon Petersen v Matthew Dennant
HNQ5 v Vincent van der Voort
Joe Cullen v Jamie Lewis
Saturday September 10
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Robert Thornton v Janos Vegso/HNQ1
Terry Jenkins v Joe Murnan/Zoran Lerchbacher
Gerwyn Price v Simon Stevenson/Jermaine Wattimena
Mensur Suljovic v Ronny Huybrechts/Vincent Kamphuis
James Wade v Ritchie Edhouse/Justin Pipe
Alan Norris v Andy Jenkins/Steve West
Michael Smith v Mervyn King/Dimitri Van den Bergh
Ian White v Devon Petersen/Matthew Dennant
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Stephen Bunting v Joe Cullen/Jamie Lewis
Kim Huybrechts v Kyle Anderson/Darren Webster
Dave Chisnall v Jamie Caven/HNQ2
Peter Wright v Andy Smith/Robbie Green
Jelle Klaasen v HNQ5/Vincent van der Voort
Michael van Gerwen v Keegan Brown/HNQ3
Benito van de Pas v Josh Payne/Cristo Reyes
Simon Whitlock v HNQ4/Ricky Evans
Sunday September 11
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
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