2024 SUPERBET POLAND DARTS MASTERS
The 2024 Superbet Poland Darts Masters begins on Friday evening, as Gliwice plays host to the second staging of the World Series of Darts event.
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Following events in Bahrain, Den Bosch, New York and Copenhagen, the World Series of Darts continues this weekend, as a star-studded 16-player field compete on Polish soil.
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Reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and top seed Luke Littler return to action following their absence in Copenhagen, as they take on Czech duo Karel Sedlacek and Adam Gawlas respectively.
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Van Gerwen produced 110, 104 and 113 averages in storming to victory in last year’s inaugural staging in Warsaw, and the Dutchman is eyeing a repeat performance as he aims to reignite his season.
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The three-time World Champion hasn't lifted a PDC title since his Dutch Darts Masters triumph back in January, and he faces a tough test against the dangerous Sedlacek in Friday’s first round.
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“Of course I’m going to win, or I’d have stayed at home,” declared a bullish Van Gerwen, who dispatched Dimitri Van den Bergh in last year’s final.
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“I really enjoyed playing in Poland last year and I had a good result, so why can’t I do the same this year?
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“Every tournament I compete in I want to win, and I need to make sure I’m focusing now, because I’ve got a tough first round game against Karel [Sedlacek].
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“The East Europe players are improving every time. I think it’s a really strong line-up here and I’m really looking forward to playing.”
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Friday’s first round will see the eight PDC superstars locking horns with their eight East Europe rivals, as Littler takes on former World Youth Championship runner-up Gawlas.
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The Czech star defeated the 17-year-old on his way to reaching the UK Open semi-finals in 2023, although the Premier League champion represents a very different proposition ahead of their latest meeting.
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“It’s going to be another good experience for me; a different crowd, a different stage,” admitted Littler, who is bidding to build on his Premier League heroics in Poland.
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“I’m looking forward to it. I love playing in front of big crowds, so hopefully I can put on a show for them and get the win.
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“It was going to be tough no matter who I played. I think it’s a really strong field of players, and I know what Adam is capable of.
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“The Premier League win was massive for me. I’ve got that under my belt now, but all my focus is on this weekend in Poland.”
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World Champion Luke Humphries will also headline this weekend’s action at the PreZero Arena, as he opens his title challenge against Hungarian debutant Gyorgy Jehirszki.
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Humphries is still searching for his maiden World Series title after suffering back-to-back semi-final defeats to Rob Cross in New York and Copenhagen, although he’s relishing his latest visit to Poland.
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“I don’t know much about Gyorgy but he’s in this tournament for a reason, so I won’t take him lightly,” vowed the world number one.
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“This is a great tournament to be involved in and I’m really happy to be here. Last year was a great success and I’m sure this year will be a great success too.
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“The fans were absolutely amazing in Warsaw and it’s a bigger arena this year, so I’m expecting the atmosphere to be even better.
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“I’m just hoping I can produce my A-game this weekend. There’s a lot more expectation on my shoulders compared to last year, but I’m embracing that feeling of being World Champion now.”
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Elsewhere, Masters champion Stephen Bunting will play Krzysztof Ratajski in a blockbuster first round showdown, as Poland’s premier player makes his return to home soil.
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US Darts Masters champion Rob Cross – a runner-up in Copenhagen – takes on young prospect Sebastian Bialecki, while world number three Michael Smith also faces a home favourite in Radek Szaganski.
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World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall meets Croatia’s number one Boris Krcmar for a place in the quarter-finals, in a repeat of their opening round clash 12 months ago.
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Meanwhile, Peter Wright goes up against televised debutant Jacek Krupka in his opener, as the two-time World Champion bids to return to winning ways following an early exit in Copenhagen last Friday.
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Following Friday’s first round, the event will conclude with a bumper evening session on Saturday, as the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are held in front of a sell-out crowd in Gliwice.
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The Superbet Poland Darts Masters will be broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
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2024 Superbet Poland Darts Masters
Draw Bracket
(1) Luke Littler v Adam Gawlas
Peter Wright v Jacek Krupka
(4) Luke Humphries v Gy?rgy Jehirszki
Michael Smith v Radek Szaganski
(2) Rob Cross v Sebastian Bialecki
Stephen Bunting v Krzysztof Ratajski
(3) Michael van Gerwen v Karel Sedlacek
Nathan Aspinall v Boris Krcmar
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Schedule of Play
Friday June 14 (1900 local time)
First Round x8
Rob Cross v Sebastian Bialecki
Nathan Aspinall v Boris Krcmar
Michael Smith v Radek Szaganski
Peter Wright v Jacek Krupka
Michael van Gerwen v Karel Sedlacek
Luke Littler v Adam Gawlas
Stephen Bunting v Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Humphries v Gy?rgy Jehirszki
Best of 11 legs
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Saturday June 15 (1900 local time)
Quarter-Finals
Best of 11 legs
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Semi-Finals
Best of 13 legs
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Final
Best of 15 legs