Announcements

THE world's top 12 players will all be in action at the Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals in Glasgow next month, with Robert Thornton, Michael Smith, Jelle Klaasen and Mensur Suljovic invited to compete in the ITV4-televised event.

The 24-player World Series of Darts Finals was first staged in 2015, and brings together stars who have competed in the international World Series events throughout the year with a series of global prospects and invited players.

The eight PDC players who competed in this year's full World Series - Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis, Phil Taylor, Peter Wright, James Wade, Dave Chisnall and Raymond van Barneveld - will be seeded through to the second round in Glasgow.

The first round will feature 16 players, with eight global prospects to be invited alongside the top four non-qualified players from the PDC Order of Merit and four PDC Qualifiers.

The four Order of Merit qualifiers following the completion of last week's World Grand Prix are: Scotland's former UK Open and World Grand Prix champion Robert Thornton; England's former World Youth Champion Michael Smith; Dutch star Jelle Klaasen, the 2006 Lakeside Champion; Austria's Mensur Suljovic, who has risen to a career-high 12th in the world this year.

Both Thornton and Smith competed in the inaugural World Series of Darts Finals last November, with the youngster being knocked out by Mark Webster in round one and the Scot being overhauled by eventual champion Michael van Gerwen.

The eight global prospects will be announced in due course, while the PDC Qualifier for Tour Card Holders will take place on Sunday October 23 in Barnsley to find the final four players.

Tickets for the Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals are available now from the Braehead Arena Box Office by calling 0844 499 1700 or online via www.ticketmaster.co.uk.