PRICE FACES SUZUKI TEST IN BOYLESPORTS GRAND SLAM OF DARTS OPENER

PRICE FACES SUZUKI TEST IN BOYLESPORTS GRAND SLAM OF DARTS OPENER

Gerwyn Price will begin his bid to win a third successive BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts against Mikuru Suzuki on Monday, with the draw for the group stage of the event having been made.

Welsh star Price has taken Grand Slam glory for the past two years, and following his run of success in recent months is the 10/3 pre-tournament favourite with sponsors BoyleSports.

The world number three has been drawn in Group G alongside World Cup team-mate Jonny Clayton, Grand Slam debutant Ryan Joyce and Japan's reigning Women's World Champion Suzuki, who he meets in Monday's opening ties at Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

Price also met Suzuki in the 2019 event, taking a 5-3 victory when they faced off in the Group Stage 12 months ago.

World number one Michael van Gerwen will take on qualifier Adam Hunt in his Group A opener, with debutant Joe Cullen and top-ranked German ace Gabriel Clemens facing off in their group's other tie.

World Champion Peter Wright meets World Grand Prix finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode, with Ian White and Devon Petersen being their rivals in Group E.

Two-time Grand Slam finalist James Wade headlines a tough Group F alongside Premier League champion Glen Durrant, Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena - who qualified from the PDC Winter Series Order of Merit on Saturday - and Australia's fast-emerging Damon Heta.

Number eight seed Gary Anderson, another two-time runner-up in the event, plays Czech Republic's Adam Gawlas in their Group B opener, with Simon Whitlock and Ryan Searle being their rivals for a last 16 spot.

World Cup finalist Michael Smith plays PDC Women's Qualifier Lisa Ashton in their first tie, with Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski and Portugal's Jose De Sousa being their Group C opponents.

2018 World Champion Rob Cross is joined in Group D by Dave Chisnall, Luke Humphries and Justin Pipe, while Nathan Aspinall is the Group H seed alongside World Matchplay winner Dimitri Van den Bergh, Ricky Evans and BDO Champion Wayne Warren.

The Group Stage of the tournament is split across the opening four days at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, with Monday's winning players in each group on Tuesday as the two losing players also clash.

The third games in the group stage will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, with the top two players from each group progressing to the knockout stages, which begin on Friday and run through to Tuesday's final.

The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, as well as through the PDC's international broadcast partners including RTL7 and DAZN and for PDCTV Rest of the World Subscribers.

BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts

Group A

(1) Michael van Gerwen

Joe Cullen

Gabriel Clemens

Adam Hunt

Group B

(8) Gary Anderson

Simon Whitlock

Ryan Searle

Adam Gawlas

Group C

(4) Michael Smith

Krzysztof Ratajski

Jose De Sousa

Lisa Ashton

Group D

(5) Rob Cross

Dave Chisnall

Luke Humphries

Justin Pipe

Group E

(2) Peter Wright

Ian White

Devon Petersen

Dirk van Duijvenbode

Group F

(7) James Wade

Glen Durrant

Jermaine Wattimena

Damon Heta

Group G

(3) Gerwyn Price

Jonny Clayton

Ryan Joyce

Mikuru Suzuki

Group H

(6) Nathan Aspinall

Dimitri Van den Bergh

Ricky Evans

Wayne Warren

Opening Fixtures - Schedule TBC

Michael van Gerwen v Adam Hunt (A)

Joe Cullen v Gabriel Clemens (A)

Gary Anderson v Adam Gawlas (B)

Simon Whitlock v Ryan Searle (B)

Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton (C)

Krzysztof Ratajski v Jose De Sousa (C)

Rob Cross v Justin Pipe (D)

Dave Chisnall v Luke Humphries (D)

Peter Wright v Dirk van Duijvenbode (E)

Ian White v Devon Petersen (E)

James Wade v Damon Heta (F)

Glen Durrant v Jermaine Wattimena (F)

Gerwyn Price v Mikuru Suzuki (G)

Jonny Clayton v Ryan Joyce (G)

Nathan Aspinall v Wayne Warren (H)

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ricky Evans (H)

Find out more at https://www.pdc.tv/