Michael van Gerwen will start the defence of his Shanghai Darts Masters title against Chinese qualifier Hai Long Chen in the first round tomorrow.
The world number one defeated James Wade 8-3 in the final of the inaugural World Series event in Shanghai 12 months ago.
Van Gerwen starts his challenge in the second staging of the tournament at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South on Thursday against Hai Long Chen, who was one of four players to come through today’s qualifier in Shanghai.
“It’s great to be back here,” van Gerwen said. “It’s a lovely country and I was lucky enough to win in China last year. I want to win again.”
Elsewhere in the draw, last year’s runner-up Wade was drawn against World Youth Championship qualifier Xiao Chen Zong, while Gary Anderson, winner of the Dubai Darts Masters in May, begins his bid for back-to-back World Series titles against Wei Hong Li.
Paul Lim, a quarter-finalist with Singapore in the recent Betway World Cup of Darts, meets Dave Chisnall in the first round, Gerwyn Price takes on Hong Kong’s Royden Lam, and Phil Taylor goes up against Korean qualifier Hyun Chul Park.
Raymond van Barneveld will face former World Championship qualifier Cheng An Liu in his first televised game since switching darts manufacturers to Target, while Peter Wright takes on Japan’s Haruki Muramatsu.
2017 Shanghai Darts Masters Draw Bracket
Gary Anderson (1) v Wei Hong Li
Raymond van Barneveld v Cheng An Liu
Gerwyn Price (4) v Royden Lam
Dave Chisnall v Paul Lim
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Hai Long Chen
Phil Taylor v Hyun Chul Park
Peter Wright (3) v Haruki Muramatsu
James Wade v Xiao Chen Zong
Schedule of Play
Thursday July 6 (6.30pm local time)
First Round
Gerwyn Price v Royden Lam
Raymond van Barneveld v Cheng An Liu
James Wade v Xiao Chen Zong
Phil Taylor v Hyun Chul Park
Dave Chisnall v Paul Lim
Peter Wright v Haruki Muramatsu
Michael van Gerwen v Hai Long Chen
Gary Anderson v Wei Hong Li
All games are the best of 11 legs
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