LUKE Littler’s blockbuster World Matchplay opener against Michael Van Gerwen will be among the final first-round matches to be played.

Warrington’s teenage darts sensation will make his tournament debut at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens next week, with the first-round draw throwing up a titanic tussle with the Dutchman, who is the second seed and will be looking for his fourth World Matchplay title.

The two will face off on Monday, July 15, in the penultimate first-round match, with that day’s session getting underway at 7pm.

Most of Littler’s rivals for the title will have already got their campaigns underway by then, with the action getting underway on Saturday, July 13.

Second-round ties will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, with the quarter-finals on Thursday and Friday night.

The semi-finals will take place on Saturday night with the final on Sunday night.

All of the action will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Betfred World Matchplay 2024 schedule of play

Saturday July 13 (1930 BST)

First Round x4

Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney

Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld

Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko

Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse

Sunday July 14

Afternoon Session (1300 BST)

First Round x4

Ross Smith v Josh Rock

Danny Noppert v James Wade

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Martin Schindler

Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce

Evening Session (1900 BST)

First Round x4

Rob Cross v Gian van Veen

Joe Cullen v Brendan Dolan

Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding

Dave Chisnall v Krzysztof Ratajski

NB: Should England reach the UEFA Euro 2024 final, session times for Sunday July 14 will be amended and ticket holders advised of new timings.

Monday July 15 (1900 BST)

First Round x4

Damon Heta v Ryan Searle

Michael Smith v Gary Anderson

Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler

Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse

Tuesday July 16 (1900 BST)

Second Round x4

Wednesday July 17 (1900 BST)

Second Round x4

Thursday July 18 (2000 BST)

Quarter-Finals x2

Friday July 19 (2000 BST)

Quarter-Finals x2

Saturday July 20 (2000 BST)

Semi-Finals

Sunday July 21

Afternoon Session (1300 BST)

Betfred Women's World Matchplay

Quarter-Finals

Beau Greaves v Katie Sheldon

Mikuru Suzuki v Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Fallon Sherrock v Anastasia Dobromyslova

Lisa Ashton v Rhian O'Sullivan

Semi-Finals

Greaves/Sheldon v Suzuki/Van Leuven

Sherrock/Dobromyslova v Ashton/O'Sullivan

Final

Evening Session (2000 BST)

Betfred World Matchplay final