THE PARTYPOKER.NET EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

          The Maritim Hotel, Dusseldorf, Germany plays host to the 2011 PartyPoker.net European Darts Championships from July 28th – 31st 2011 and ITV4 will be screening all the action live throughout the four day event.

Now in it’s fourth year Phil Taylor who has just won a 12th World Matchplay title will be bidding to hold on to his Europeann title having won the previous three stagings of the event. It’s good to see ITV4 renewing their darts coverage and gives fans another opportunity of seeing the worlds greatest darts players.

The 32 player field chasing a first prize of £50,000  is made up of the PDC ‘s top 16 who qualify by right and they are joined by eight Players Championship Order of Merit and eight European Order of Merit players.

     Defending Champion Phil Taylor starts against Greek newcomer John Michael who qualified through the European system with a potential second round meeting with either Mervyn King or Co Stompe waiting for ‘The Power’ Also in the top half of the draw is Paul Nicholson who plays Justin Pipe, Mark Webster, Simon Whitlock and Gary Anderson, so the defending champion will have his work cut out to reach another European final.

In the bottom section of the draw World Champion and number 2 seed Adrian Lewis starts his challenge  against Vincent van der Voort and if he can get the better of the Dutchman,  Jelle Klaasen or Dave Chisnall, who makes his European debut, await Lewis.

      UK Open winner and recent World Matchplay runner-up James Wade plays Swedens Magnus Caris while the man he beat to win the UK Open Wes Newton plays Andy Smith and ‘The Warrior’ could play Adrian Lewis at the quarter-final stage.

 Andy Hamilton is rewarded for his semi-final at Blackpool by qualifying for the event and ‘The Hammer’ has drawn Ray van Barneveld and will be eager to continue his turnaround in form.

Last years runner-up Wayne Jones plays Mark Walsh in an all England clash that promises to be a close encounter.

Thursday 28th & Friday 29th July will feature all first round matches with the action starting at 8.00pm local time (7.00pm UK time). Saturday the 30th is second round day with matches being played over two sessions starting at 2.00pm &  8.00pm local time ( 1.00pm / 7.00pm UK time). Sunday the final day of the event promises a feast of darts with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all taking place on the same day.

      First round matches are the best of 11 legs only, so the short format is bound to give darts fans plenty of shocks and surprises. The format increases  to best of 19 legs for the second round and quarter-finals with the semi-finals and final being the best of 21 legs.

FIRST ROUND DRAW BRACKET

Phil Taylor (1 ENG) v John Michael (GRE)

Mervyn King (ENG) v Co Stompe (NED)

Mark Webster (8 WAL) v Terry Jenkins (ENG)

Justin Pipe (ENG) v Paul Nicholson (AUS)

Simon Whitlock (5 AUS) v Mensur Suljovic (AUT)

Alan Tabern (ENG) v Colin Lloyd (ENG)

Gary Anderson (4 SCO) v Jamie Caven (ENG)

John Part (CAN) v Peter Wright (ENG)

Adrian Lewis (2 ENG) v Vincent van der Voort (NED)

Jelle Klaasen (NED) v Dave Chisnall (ENG)

Wes Newton (7 ENG) v Andy Smith (ENG)

Kim Huybrechts (BEL) v Antonia Alcinas (ESP)

Ray van Barneveld (6 NED) v Andy Hamilton (ENG)

Wayne Jones (ENG) v Mark Walsh (ENG)

James Wade (3 ENG) v Magnus Caris (SWE)

Ronnie Baxter (ENG) v Michael van Gerwen (NED)

The PartyPoker.net European Darts Championships from 28th July 2011 and exclusively live on ITV4.

Andrew Devonshire PDPA.