World Darts Championship draw LIVE: Michael Smith, Luke Humphries and Fallon Sherrock discover first and second round opponents

The World Darts Championship returns in December as 96 international stars head to Alexandra Palace to compete for the Sid Waddell Trophy and claim the title of World Champion.

England’s Michael Smith is the current champion having defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in the 2022/23 showpiece back in January this year. Smith will face either Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz when he enters the tournament in the second round whil Van Gerwen is set for a clash against Keane Barry or Reynaldo Rivera.

Fallon Sherrock has qualified for the tournament yet again and plays Jermaine Wattimena in the opening round ahead of a potential second round tie versus Martin Schindler.

Relive the World Darts Championship draw live below:

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“I don’t want to be the former world champion”: Michael Smith ready for World Darts Championship defence

World champion Michael Smith is not ready to hand his crown over to anyone else as he prepares for the defence of his title.

The 33-year-old lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time in January after a stunning performance against Michael van Gerwen in the final, hitting a nine-dart finish in the greatest leg in the history of the sport.

He has struggled to live up to the billing of world champion during 2023 but is determined to keep hold of the silverware in the Alexandra Palace tournament which begins next month.

“I don’t want to be the former world champion” says Michael Smith

Smith says his 12 months as world champion has ‘gone too quick’.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 17:34

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What is the World Darts Championship prize money?

England’s Michael Smith will defend his title as the World Darts Championship gets underway in December. Smith won last year’s tournament, beating Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in the final to lift the trophy for the first time and he’ll be keen to repeat that success this year.

That won’t be an easy task as 96 players take part in the prestigious championship hoping for their shot at glory. As runner-up back in January, Van Gerwen is seeded second – behind Smith – for this competition with Luke Humphries third and two-time World Champion Peter Wright the fourth seed.

Other big names to compete are 2021 winner Gerwyn Price and World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall who will enter the tournament in the second round due to their protected rankings.

What is the World Darts Championship prize money?

Here’s a breakdown of how much players will earn for each round of the tournament

Mike Jones27 November 2023 17:19

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World Darts Championship draw

The second quarter of the draw looks particularly tough with Gerwyn Price, James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson all involved on the seeded side of things.

Luke Humphries meanwhile will be pleased to take whoever wins the first round match between Lee Evans or Sandro Eric Sosing.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 17:11

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World Darts Championship draw

And here’s the bracket, split into it’s four sections, on a nice graphic to digest the draw:

Mike Jones27 November 2023 17:07

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World Darts Championship draw

Here is the full draw for the first two rounds of the World Darts Championship.

1. Michael Smith v Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz
2. Madars Razman v Mike De Decker or Dragutin Horvat
3. Ross Smith v Niels Zonneveld or Darren Webster
4. Chris Dobey v William O’Connor or Bhav Patel
5. Rob Cross v Mario Vandenbogaerde or Thibault Tricole
6. Jose De Sousa v Richie Edhouse or Jeffrey De Graaf
7. Jonny Clayton v Steve Lennon or Owen Bates
8. Krzysztof Ratajski v Jamie Hughes or David Cameron
9. Peter Wright v Jim Williams or Norman Madhoo
10. Raymond van Barneveld v Radek Szaganski or Marko Kantele
11. James Wade v Matt Campbell or Lourence Ilagan
12. Andrew Gilding v Christian Kist or Luke Littler
13. Gerwyn Price v Connor Scutt r Krzystof Kcuik
14. Brendan Dolan v Mickey Mansell or Xiaochen Zong
15. Dirk van Duijvenbode v Keegan Brown or Boris Krcmar
16. Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock or Paolo Nebrida
17. Michael van Gerwen v Keane Barry or Reynaldo Rivera
18. Kim Huybrechts v Richard Veenstra or Ben Robb
19. Dimitri van den Bergh v Dylan Slevin or Florian Hempel
20. Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce or Alex Spellman
21. Danny Noppert v Scott Williams or Haruki Muramatsu
22. Martin Schindler v Jermaine Wattimena or Fallon Sherrock
23. Damon Heta v Martin Lukeman or Haupai Puha
24. Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse or Berry van Peer
25. Luke Humphries v Lee Evans or Sandro Eric Sosing
26. Callan Rydz v Ricardo Pietreczko or Mikuru Suzuki
27. Joe Cullen v Jules van Dongen or Darren Penhall
28. Ryan Searle v Ian White or Tomoya Goto
29. Nathan Aspinall v Ricky Evans or Simon Adams
30. Daryl Gurney v Steve Beaton or Wessel Nijman
31. Dave Chisnall v Cameron Menzies or Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
32. Gabriel Clemens v Gian van Veen or Man Lok Leung

Mike Jones27 November 2023 17:05

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World Darts Championship draw

Brendan Dolan (28) faces Mickey Mansell or Xiaochen Zong

Nathan Aspinall (6) plays Ricky Evasn or Simon Adams

Josh Rock (23) plays Luke Woodhouse or Berry van Peer.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 17:00

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World Darts Championship draw

Daryl Gurney (27) will play Steve Beaton or Wessel Nijman.

Dave Chisnall (11) takes on Cameron Menzies or Rusty-Jake Rodriguez.

Gabriel Clemens (22) will play Gian Van Veen or Man Lok Leung.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 16:53

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World Darts Championship draw

Callan Rydz (30) will play either Ricardo Pietrezcko or Mikuru Suzuki.

Joe Cullen (14) takes on Jules Van Dongen or Darren Penhall.

Ryan Searle (19) will play Ian White or Tomoya Goto.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 16:51

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World Darts Championship draw

Martin Schindler (26) will play Jermaine Wattimena or Fallon Sherrock.

Damon Hetta (10) takes on Martin Lukeman or Haupai Puha.

Luke Humphries (3) will play either Lee Evans or Sandro Eric Sosing.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 16:49

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World Darts Championship draw

Dimitri Van Den Bergh (15) will play Dylan Slevin or Florian Hempel.

Stephen Bunting (18) takes on Ryan Joyce or Alex Spellman.

Danny Knopert (7) will play either Scott Williams or Haruki Muramatsu.

Mike Jones27 November 2023 16:48

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