Thursday 30 October 2014 21:29, UK
Adrian Lewis will begin the defence of his European Championship title against Jelle Klaasen on Friday, while Michael van Gerwen will be bidding for his third successive win on the PDC circuit.
World No.3 Lewis beat 2012 champion Simon Whitlock 11-6 as he won his first Europwan Championship title at the RWE Sporthalle in Muelheim last summer.
This year's three-day event kicks off on Friday when the 32 players compete in the first round in Germany, with Lewis opening his challenge against Holland's Jelle Klaasen.
"We're both quick players and he's hit a bit of form recently, so I know it will be tough and I think it will be a good game," said Lewis.
"It's a short format, the first to six legs, so I've got to hit the ground running and I'll be going out to do that."
"I didn't have the rub of the green in the World Grand Prix but I've been playing consistently well in the floor tournaments recently and I want to push on and take that onto the stage now.
"We're in a run of six major tournaments in three months and I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks as we build up to the World Championship."
Phil 'The Power' Taylor had been unbeaten in the first four years of the event between 2008-2011 as he picked up a quartet of titles, and opens his bid to win the £55,000 first prize for a fifth time against Steve Beaton on Friday night.
Taylor had taken a comfortable victory when the pair met in the World Grand Prix first round recently, but is expecting a different challenge as they meet in a repeat of the 2009 European Championship final.
"Steve didn't play as well as he can do in Dublin but that was the double-start format and sets, so in a straight best of 11 I'm expecting him to play a lot better on Friday," said Taylor.
"I've done well in the European Championship before but that means nothing this weekend - I've got to make sure I go up there and perform and I'm looking forward to it."
World Champion Michael van Gerwen is looking to continue his brilliant October form, having followed up his World Grand Prix triumph with victory in a Players Championship last weekend.
The Dutchman was a semi-finalist in last year's European Championship, and begins his challenge to go all the way this time around against Justin Pipe.
"This is a tournament I've never one so I am determined to make it another TV title," said van Gerwen. "I'm very happy with my form and this is the time of the year to really push on ahead of the World Championship.
"I'm number one in the world but I need to keep proving that by winning and that's what I want to do."
888.com European Championship - schedule of Play
Friday October 24 - First Round
Afternoon session
Wes Newton v Ian White
Vincent van der Voort v Robert Wagner
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Robert Thornton
Jamie Caven v Mensur Suljovic
Brendan Dolan v Michael Smith
Dave Chisnall v Jyhan Artut
Dean Winstanley v Kim Huybrechts
Christian Kist v Mervyn King
Evening Session
Peter Wright v Benito van de Pas
Andy Hamilton v Stephen Bunting
Gary Anderson v Terry Jenkins
James Wade v Ronny Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis v Jelle Klaasen
Michael van Gerwen v Justin Pipe
Phil Taylor v Steve Beaton
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
Saturday October 25 - Second Round
Afternoon Session
Anderson/Jenkins v Rodriguez/Thornton
Chisnall/Artut v Newton/White
Lewis/Klaasen v Caven/Suljovic
Wright/van de Pas v Winstanley/K Huybrechts
Evening Session
Whitlock/van Barneveld v van der Voort/Wagner
Taylor/Beaton v Hamilton/Bunting
Van Gerwen/Pipe v Dolan/Smith
Wade/R Huybrechts v Kist/King
Sunday October 26
Quarter-Finals - Order TBC
Semi-Finals - Order TBC
Final
