EXCITEMENT is growing for the major darts event of summer, the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

Warrington’s hopes lie with sensational 17-year-old Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, who plays mighty Michael van Gerwen in the first round on Monday.

Whoever wins in Monday’s heavyweight bout between Littler and Van Gerwen will face either Joe Cullen or Brendan Dolan in the second round on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Littler, the Premier League champion, is second favourite with title sponsors Betfred to win the tournament on his debut.

Van Gerwen, the world number two who has won this event three times, is fourth favourite.

Betfred odds for 2024 World Matchplay:

3/1 Luke Humphries

4/1 Luke Littler

15/2 Gerwyn Price

9/1 Michael van Gerwen

14/1 Rob Cross

18/1 Gary Anderson

20/1 Michael Smith

25/1 Stephen Bunting

28/1 Chris Dobey, Nathan Aspinall

33/1 Dave Chisnall, Josh Rock, Jonny Clayton

40/1 Danny Noppert, Martin Schindler, Ross Smith

50/1 Damon Heta, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Ryan Searle

66/1 Peter Wright

100/1 Joe Cullen, Daryl Gurney, Gian van Veen, James Wade

125/1 Raymond van Barneveld, Krzysztof Ratajski, Luke Woodhouse

150/1 Brendan Dolan, Ryan Joyce, Ritchie Edhouse

200/1 Andrew Gilding, Ricardo Pietreczko

*Odds correct at time of writing and courtesy of Betfred.com. Subject to fluctuation.

What Luke Littler is saying about first-round match with Michael van Gerwen:

"It's a blockbuster first round tie.

"It's going to be a completely new experience for myself on debut, but I've been putting the practice in, and I can't wait to get on that Winter Gardens stage.

"Playing Michael - I know I bring the best out of him, and he brings the best out of me. We always have good games, so I'm expecting the same on Monday.

"It would mean everything to beat a player like Michael in the first round, and I think the draw could open up for either one of us, so if I could get past Michael, I would fancy my chances for another good run."

Luke Littler achievements so far in 2024:

As well as winning his debut Premier League campaign this year and four of the weekly rounds, he has been crowned Bahrain Masters, Belgium Open, Austrian Open and Player Championship 1 champion.

This all followed finishing runner-up in his maiden World Championships appearance.

And he has achieved magical nine-darters four times on the way to his array of successes.

They came in the Bahrain Masters, Belgium Darts Open, Austrian Open and the Premier League, equalling the record for the most by an individual thrower in any one year.

When does the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay start and where you can watch it:

Action in the World Matchplay will run across nine days from tonight, with the showpiece event of the darting summer featuring the sport’s biggest names.

All the matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.

How does the tournament unfold?

The latest edition of the £800,000 event will see reigning champion Nathan Aspinall headlining a star-studded 32-player field.

The first round will see the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit take on the 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit, with Aspinall pitted against debutant Luke Woodhouse in the opening session tonight.

First-round action continues tomorrow afternoon going into the evening, then on Monday night.

Round two takes place across Tuesday and Wednesday, with the quarter-finals staged next Thursday and Friday.

The semi-finals will take place on Saturday, July 20, before the final is held following the third edition of the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay on Sunday, July 21.

What’s the format for this tournament?

First Round - Best of 19 legs (first to 10)

Second Round - Best of 21 legs (first to 11)

Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs (first to 16)

Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs (first to 17)

Final - Best of 35 legs (first to 18)

*Games may continue beyond the stated legs because a player must win by two clear legs

2024 Betfred World Matchplay first-round schedule:

Saturday, July 13:

Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney, 7.45pm

Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld, 8.45pm

Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko, 9.45pm

Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse, 10.45pm

Sunday, July 14, session one:

Ross Smith v Josh Rock, 12.15pm

Danny Noppert v James Wade, 1pm

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Martin Schindler, 1.50pm

Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce, 2.35pm

Sunday, July 14, session two:

Rob Cross v Gian van Veen, 4.45pm

Joe Cullen v Brendan Dolan, 5.30pm

Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding, 6.20pm

Dave Chisnall v Krzysztof Ratajski, 7.10pm

Monday, July 15:

Damon Heta v Ryan Searle, 7.15pm

Michael Smith v Gary Anderson, 8.15pm

Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler, 9.15pm

Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse, 10.15pm

2024 Betfred World Matchplay second-round schedule:

Tuesday, July 16, from 7pm: four matches

Wednesday, July 17, from 7pm: four matches

2024 Betfred World Matchplay quarter-finals schedule:

Thursday, July 18, from 8pm: two matches

Friday, July 19, from 8pm: two matches

2024 Betfred World Matchplay semi-finals schedule:

Saturday, July 20, from 8pm: two matches

2024 Betfred World Matchplay final schedule:

Sunday, July 21, from 8pm: The Final

*Schedule subject to change

2024 Betfred World Matchplay draw bracket:

Winners of first two games listed will play each other in the second round, etc:

(1) Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko

(16) Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce

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(8) Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld

(9) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Martin Schindler

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(4) Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney

(13) Ross Smith v Josh Rock

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(5) Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse

(12) Danny Noppert v James Wade

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(2) Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler

(15) Joe Cullen v Brendan Dolan

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(7) Dave Chisnall v Krzysztof Ratajski

(10) Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding

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(3) Michael Smith v Gary Anderson

(14) Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse

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(6) Rob Cross v Gian van Veen

(11) Damon Heta v Ryan Searle

2024 Betfred World Matchplay prize fund:

Winner - £200,000

Runner-Up - £100,000

Semi-Finalists - £50,000

Quarter-Finalists - £30,000

Second Round Losers - £15,000

First Round Losers - £10,000

Total - £800,000