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Van Gerwen, Anderson and whole Premier League Darts field enter Players Championships ahead of World Grand Prix

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Michael van Gerwen has won four Players Campionship events this season (Picture: Getty Images)

There is going to be a seriously high standard in the PDC Players Championships this weekend, with the entire Premier League field entering both tournaments in Dublin.

It is a rare occasion indeed that all 10 of the men from the Premier League bother to enter a Pro Tour event, but with the World Grand Prix starting on Sunday, it is no surprise they want to find some form.

Gary Andersons Champions League of Darts win takes 2018 earnings past £500k

It is Raymond van Barneveld, of this field, that generally doesnt attend the Players Championships, having competed in just four of the 18 so far this year, and none since April.

However, he will be playing on Friday and Saturday alongside Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Daryl Gurney, Simon Whitlock, Michael Smith, Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price.

**IMAGE OUTSIDE OF SUBSCRIPTION DEAL, FEES APPLY** Editorial use only. No merchandising. For Football images FA and Premier League restrictions apply inc. no internet/mobile usage without FAPL license - for details contact Football Dataco Mandatory Credit: Photo by Stephen Bartholomew/IPS/REX (9890030h) Gary Anderson walks on for his semi-final match against Mensur Suljovic. The Paddy Power Champions League of Darts, The Brighton Centre, Brighton. England, 23rd September 2018. The Paddy Power Champions League of Darts, The Brighton Centre, Brighton. England, 23rd September 2018. — Gary Anderson is in fine form having won the Champions League of Darts at the weekend (Picture: IPS/REX)

As ever there will be £10,000 on offer for the winner of each of the events on Friday and Saturday.

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However, arguably more importantly will be finding some form and rhythm ahead of the Grand Prix which begins on Sunday at the Citywest Hotel in the Irish capital.

Two years ago Michael van Gerwen won the Friday Players Championship in Dublin and went onto win the Grand Prix the following week, so victory can be a great omen.

Daryl Gurney won the World Grand Prix last year (Picture: Getty Images)

Although the Players Championship events arent open to the public, you can stream them on PDCTV-HD, which you can subscribe to here.

It could well be the highest standard we have seen in a floor tournament for a long while, as darts statistician Burton DeWitt notes, an entire Premier League field has not contested a Players Championship since March 2016.

Unless someone withdraws, this Friday will be the first time all 10 players from a that year's Premier League played the same Players Championship event since PC2 in Barnsley… in March 2016. Stephen Bunting won the title that day.

— Burton DeWitt (@bsd987) September 25, 2018

The World Grand Prix starts on Sunday, 30 October at 7pm and runs until Saturday, 6 October.

2018 World Grand Prix First Round Fixtures

Sunday, 30 September (7pm)

Jeffrey de Zwaan v Kim Huybrechts
Ron Meulenkamp v Joe Cullen
Darren Webster v Stephen Bunting
Ricky Evans v Raymond van Barneveld
Dave Chisnall v Max Hopp
Daryl Gurney v John Henderson
Michael van Gerwen v Steve Lennon
Gary Anderson v Jonny Clayton

Monday, 1 October (7pm)

Jermaine Wattimena v Mervyn King
Josh Payne v Ian White
Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright v Steve West
Rob Cross v Steve Beaton
Mensur Suljovic v James Wade
Simon Whitlock v James Wilson
Michael Smith v Adrian Lewis

MORE: 2018 PDC World Grand Prix darts dates, qualifiers, fixtures, tickets and odds

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