2016 PDC World Darts Championship draw: Easy start for Anderson
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | November 30, 2015
Following a flurry of major darting tournaments this winter, it is now nearly time for the main event everyone has been waiting for, the 2016 PDC World Championship.
The year-ending (and beginning) competition will be live on the dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel from December 17th until January 3rd, with days off on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Finally the draw has been announced for the event at Alexandra Palace, as the world’s top players battle it out for the famous Sid Waddell trophy and increased £300k first-place prize. Coral darts writers go through the fixtures and potential meetings below…
Anderson starts title defence against prelim qualifier
Defending champion and number two seed Gary Anderson (13/2 title shout) has been drawn in the second half, so will avoid in-form world number one Michael van Gerwen (11/10 favourite) until the final.
However, the Scot may have to battle last year’s runner-up and 16-time champion Phil Taylor (9/2) in the semis, and has been given a simple start against either Andy Boulton or Denmark’s Per Laursen.
The Power and recent Players Championship Finals winner Mighty Mike have also been given favourable opening round tied, against preliminary round qualifiers Keita Ono or Alex Tagarao and Thanawat Gaweenuntawong or Rene Eidams respectively.
It is the deadly Dutchman, though, who has arguably been handed the tougher quarter, as he could face compatriot and five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld (33/1) as early as the third round. The likes of Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith and Ian White are also in his section.
Elsewhere, there are a number of tasty first round battles, as big scoring top duo Peter Wright (18/1) and Dave Chisnall (25/1) go up against respective young stars Keegan Brown and Rowby-John Rodriguez.
Former BDO World Championship runner-up (in 2014) Alan Norris has been handed a clash with World Grand Prix champion Robert Thornton, while surprise star last year Cristo Reyes will face Wes Newton again. The Spaniard shocked The Warrior at this stage 3-2, and also went on to beat Kevin Painter before going out to eventual champion.
Look out for the battle of star youngsters Benito van de Pas, who reached the Players Championship Finals, and German teenager Max Hopp, winner of the World Youth Championship.
Other top seeds hoping to go all the way are double world champion Adrian Lewis (16/1), eight-time major winner James Wade (25/1) and exciting Belgian Kim Huybrechts (66/1). They face respective opponents Jan Dekker, Warrick Scheffer or John Michael and David Pallett.
Main draw last 64
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Thanawat Gaweenuntawong or Rene Eidams
John Henderson (32) v Darren Webster
Raymond van Barneveld (16) v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Stephen Bunting (17) v Jyhan Artut
Michael Smith (8) v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Steve Beaton (25) v Koha Kokiri
Ian White (9) v Dimitri van den Bergh
Benito van de Pas (24) v Max Hopp
Adrian Lewis (5) v Jan Dekker
Andrew Gilding (28) v Gerwyn Price
Kim Huybrechts (12) v David Pallett
Mensur Suljovic (21) v Jermaine Wattimena
Peter Wright (4) v Keegan Brown
Dean Winstanley (29) v Ronny Huybrechts
Dave Chisnall (13) v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Justin Pipe (20) v Christian Kist
Gary Anderson (2) v Andy Boulton or Per Laursen
Jamie Lewis (31) v Daryl Gurney
Vincent van der Voort (15) v Loz Ryder
Brendan Dolan (18) v Kyle Anderson
James Wade (7) v Warrick Scheffer or John Michael
Wes Newton (26) v Cristo Reyes
Simon Whitlock (10) v Ricky Evans
Jamie Caven (23) v Michael Rasztovits or Rob Szabo
Robert Thornton (6) v Alan Norris
Andy Hamilton (27) v Joe Murnan
Terry Jenkins (11) v Darin Young
Mark Webster (22) v Sun Qiang or Mick McGowan
Phil Taylor (3) v Keita Ono or Alex Tagarao
Kevin Painter (30) v Kim Viljanen or Sven Groen
Mervyn King (14) v Alexander Oreshkin or Paul Lim
Jelle Klaasen (19) v Joe Cullen
Preliminary round
Michael Rasztovits (Austria) v Rob Szabo (NZ)
Keita Ono (Japan) v Alex Tagarao (Philippines)
Warrick Scheffer (SA) v John Michael (Greece)
Sun Qiang (China) v Mick McGowan (ROI)
Alexander Oreshkin (Russia) v Paul Lim (Singapore)
Kim Viljanen (Finland) v Sven Groen (Netherlands)
Andy Boulton v Per Laursen (Denmark)
Thanawat Gaweenuntawong (Thailand) v Rene Eidams (Germany)
Related
Check out our darts archive, where you’ll find content leading up to the World Championship!
