The eagerly awaited £500,000 event, which will see the top 32 players from the 2024 European Tour Order of Merit competing, is set to take place at the Westfalenhalle from October 24-27. Fans can look forward to watching the sport’s biggest names battle it out for televised silverware.
The first round of matches will be split across Thursday and Friday nights, with a jam-packed opening session featuring a bumper line-up of top half draw clashes.
Four-time European Champion Michael van Gerwen is set to take on home favourite Gabriel Clemens in the sixth tie of Thursday evening, while fourth seed Dave Chisnall squares off against world number two Michael Smith.
German number one Martin Schindler, who has clinched a brace of European Tour titles in 2024, will be the top seed on home soil. He will kick off his campaign against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Masters champion Stephen Bunting is scheduled to play two-time World Champion Gary Anderson in another heavyweight showdown, with 2022 champion Ross Smith facing Luke Woodhouse.
Runner-up from 2019 Gerwyn Price will open his challenge against Daryl Gurney, while eighth seed Ryan Searle will meet five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld for a chance to advance to the next round.
Elsewhere, Gian van Veen, a semi-finalist on debut last year, will start off this year’s tournament by facing the returning Ritchie Edhouse.
The first round action will come to a close on Friday evening, with reigning champion Peter Wright set to begin his title defense against Jermaine Wattimena, who is returning to the European Championship for the first time since 2019.
World number one Luke Humphries, fresh off his victory at the Czech Darts Open, will headline Friday’s matches as he renews his rivalry with 2023 World Matchplay winner Nathan Aspinall.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler will take on former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, while sixth seed Josh Rock will face newly crowned World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker.