World Grand Prix 2020 Draw: Van Gerwen to face Ratajski in Coventry opener
The draw for the 2020 World Grand Prix has been confirmed, with Michael van Gerwen launching his title defence against Krzysztof Ratajski in Coventry.
This year’s World Grand Prix will take place behind closed doors at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry from October 6-12.
It will be the first time the prestigious double-start event has been held away from the Citywest Hotel in Dublin for 20 years.
The field is comprised of the top 16 players from the main Order of Merit, as well as the next highest 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit.
The top eight players in the main Order of Merit are seeded in the First Round draw.
Reigning and five-time champion Michael van Gerwen will begin his title defence with a clash against world number 14 Ratajski.
World Champion Peter Wright, the 2018 Grand Prix runner-up, starts out against debutant Ryan Joyce.
Daryl Gurney, the 2017 champion, will face Joe Cullen, while two-time champion James Wade meets 2012 finalist Mervyn King.
Gary Anderson, the 2016 runner-up who is unseeded in the draw, will take on fifth seed Rob Cross in another box office clash.
World number three Gerwyn Price has been drawn to play Jermaine Wattimena, while fourth seed Michael Smith takes on World Matchplay champion Dimitri van den Bergh.
Premier League semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall will take on German number two Gabriel Clemens, as 2010 Grand Prix runner-up Adrian Lewis meets last year’s semi-finalist Chris Dobey.
Premier League table-topper Glen Durrant faces a mouth-watering opener against 2013 finalist Dave Chisnall, while 2011 runner-up Brendan Dolan faces Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts.
German Championship winner Devon Petersen marks his debut with a tie against Portugal’s Jose De Sousa, while Welsh ace Jonny Clayton faces Stoke star Ian White.
Mensur Suljovic takes on debutant Dirk van Duijvenbode, in-form Danny Noppert plays Ryan Searle and former Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting faces Jamie Hughes.
The schedule of play will be confirmed in due course.
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World Grand Prix Darts 2020 Draw
First Round
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Krzysztof Ratajski
Peter Wright (2) v Ryan Joyce
Gerwyn Price (3) v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael Smith (4) v Dimitri van den Bergh
Rob Cross (5) v Gary Anderson
Nathan Aspinall (6) v Gabriel Clemens
Daryl Gurney (7) v Joe Cullen
James Wade (8) v Mervyn King
Jose De Sousa v Devon Petersen
Adrian Lewis v Chris Dobey
Mensur Suljovic v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Danny Noppert v Ryan Searle
Dave Chisnall v Glen Durrant
Jonny Clayton v Ian White
Brendan Dolan v Kim Huybrechts
Jamie Hughes v Stephen Bunting
