The 2024 European Championship Darts begins today in Dortmund, Germany.

After 13 European Tour events across the continent in 2024, the top 32 on the European Tour Order of Merit will now face off to determine who will be the European Champion for the year.

Today sees the 2022 European Championship Darts winner in action, as well as a four time winner of this event, and two home nation hopefuls looking to move into round two.

Here’s a look ahead to day one of the 2024 European Championship Darts.

Smith starts bid for second title, MvG looking for five

2022 champion Ross Smith, who beat Michael Smith in that final, looks to defend the £120,000 on his ranking this weekend in Germany. He takes on Luke Woodhouse, who’s reached this event for the first time.

The only time these two have met on TV was at the 2022 Grand Slam, where Woody defeated Smudger. However, they have met twice this year on the Euro Tour, with Smith coming out on top. Can Smudger continue this record, or will it be victory for Woody on European Championship debut?

The winner of that match will play the winner of Ryan Searle against five time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld. Heavy Metal is competing in the European Championship Darts for the fourth straight year, but has not made it past the second round in any of his previous attempts. By contrast, this is the 11th time that Barney has qualified for the tournament, with semi final appearances in 2011 and 2014 his best effort.

Searle has won seven of the pair’s last eight meetings, including at last year’s World Matchplay, with their round one clash the only time the pair have met in front of the big cameras. Can Heavy Metal continue his excellent form against the Dutchman, or will Barney move into the second round of the European Championship for the first time since his last four appearance 10 years ago?

Another Dutchman who gets his campaign under way tonight is the four time champion Michael van Gerwen. He takes on home favourite Gabriel Clemens, who’s qualified for this event for the fifth straight year.

The Green Machine last made the final of this event in 2021, losing to Rob Cross, and reached the quarter finals 12 months ago. By contrast, The German Giant has never won a game at the European Championship Darts.

MvG beat Clemens in both of their previous TV games at the 2020 and 2022 Grand Slam, and has won eight of their last nine matches. Will that record continue, or can the German crowd help their hero to his first ever win at this event?

The winner will face either Stephen Bunting or Gary Anderson, as the pair face each other in what should be a cracking game. Bunting has qualified for this event for the third straight year, while Anderson will be playing at the European Championship for the first time since 2016.

Masters champion Bunting hasn’t won a ranked TV game against Anderson, and lost three of their last four overall matches. They’ve not met in front of the big cameras since the 2021 World Matchplay, so what will The Bullet and The Flying Scotsman have in store for us tonight?

Chisnall bids for elusive TV title, Schindler looks for home victory

The final match of the night sees Dave Chisnall, a two time European Tour winner this year, face off against 2022 European Championship Darts runner up Michael Smith.

This the 13th time in 14 years Chizzy will be a part of the tournament, while The Bully Boy extends his record of qualifying for the event every year since 2014.

Their only meeting in ranked majors came at the 2018 World Matchplay, where Chisnall defeated Smith 11-8. The pair have not met in any competition since 2022, so who will come out on top and be the last player through to round two this evening?

The winner of this game will meet the winner of the first match, as Gian van Veen takes on Richie Edhouse. Van Veen reached the last four here last year in his debut attempt, while Edhouse’s only other appearance was a first round exit in 2021.

This is the first time the pair will meet on TV, but The Giant has a 3-0 record against Madhouse in PDC events, the last one coming in a Euro Tour event in April. Can the Dutchman keep his unbeaten record alive, or will Edhouse, who has been extremely good this year on the Euro Tour, finally defeat him?

Also playing tonight is the number one seed Martin Schindler. The Wall won two events on the Euro Tour this year, the International Darts Open in Riesa back in April, as well as the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel last month. He faces number 32 seed, Dirk van Duijvenbode, who’s played in this event four of the last five years, reaching the semi finals in 2022.

Schindler has qualified for this event four times previously, but like compatriot Clemens, has yet to taste victory. He also has yet to beat The Titan at a TV ranked tournament, losing to him in both the UK Open and Grand Slam in 2022. Can The Wall change that record tonight, or will Van Dujvenbode break the hearts of the German crowd?

Either Gerwyn Price or Daryl Gurney will play against the victor. This is the tenth straight time that The Iceman will play in the European Championship, reaching the final in 2019. For Superchin, this is the eighth time in nine years he’s qualified, with his best being a last four appearance in 2015 and 2019.

This will be the fourth time that Price and Gurney have met in a ranked TV major, with the Iceman winning the three previous matches, including round one at the 2024 World Matchplay. However, Superchin did win their last match, coming through 6-3 in the last 16 of the World Series of Darts Finals. It should be another excellent game between the pair, but who will come out on top?

A bumper night of darts gets underway in Dortmund from 18.45 local time, 17.45 in the UK.

2024 European Championship Darts Day One Schedule of Play

Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany

Thursday 24 October (18.45 CEST, 17.45 BST)

Round One x8

Gian van Veen v Ritchie Edhouse

Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney

Ross Smith v Luke Woodhouse

Stephen Bunting v Gary Anderson

Ryan Searle v Raymond van Barneveld

Michael van Gerwen v Gabriel Clemens

Martin Schindler v Dirk van Duijvenbode

Dave Chisnall v Michael Smith

All matches best of 11 legs