Announcements

THERE will be an all-St Helens clash in the opening round of the Unibet European Championship in Hasselt, Belgium from October 28-30.

Former Premier League aces Michael Smith and Stephen Bunting clash in the ITV4-televised event, which sees 32 players competing across three days at the Ethias Arena.

Another St Helener, sixth seed Dave Chisnall, will face Kyle Anderson on Friday.

Michael van Gerwen defends the title which he has won for the past two years.

The Dutchman's rivals are comprised of his rivals in the top 32 of the 2016 European Tour Order of Merit, based on prize money won in this year's ten European Tour events held in Germany, the Netherlands, Gibraltar and Austria.

The opening day of the European Championship will see the first round take place across two sessions, with the matches involving the eight seeded players being held in the evening.

Top seed van Gerwen takes on 2012 champion Simon Whitlock in a clash between two former winners of the event, while four-time victor Phil Taylor comes up against number seven seed Alan Norris.

Belgium's Kim Huybrechts - the only home player in the event - comes up against James Wilson after the evening session opens with Dutch ace Jelle Klaasen faces Steve West.

The afternoon session begins with the meeting between Jamie Caven and James Richardson, while former finalist Terry Jenkins plays Ian White, former World Grand Prix winner Robert Thornton meets Spain's Cristo Reyes.

Saturday sees the second round split across two sessions in Hasselt, before the event concludes on Sunday with the quarter-finals in the afternoon session and the semi-finals and final in the evening session.

Session Schedule, Friday October 28.

Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm UK time).

First Round: Jamie Caven v James Richardson, Daryl Gurney v Gerwyn Price, Chris Dobey v Joe Cullen, Ian White v Terry Jenkins, Cristo Reyes v Robert Thornton, Mervyn King v Devon Petersen, Michael Smith v Stephen Bunting, Max Hopp v Benito van de Pas.

Evening Session (8pm-12am local time, 7pm-11pm UK time). First Round: Jelle Klaasen (8) v Steve West, Kim Huybrechts (5) v James Wilson, Dave Chisnall (6) v Kyle Anderson, Mensur Suljovic (2) v Jermaine Wattimena, Peter Wright (3) v Justin Pipe, Alan Norris (7) v Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen (1) v Simon Whitlock, James Wade (4) v Gary Anderson.

Saturday October 29, Afternoon Session (12.45pm-5pm UK time).

Second Round: Chisnall/K Anderson v Caven/Richardson, Suljovic/Wattimena v White/Jenkins, Wright/Pipe v Reyes/Thornton, Huybrechts/Wilson v King/Petersen.

Evening Session (7pm-11pm UK time).

Second Round: Klaasen/West v Smith/Bunting, Norris/Taylor v Dobey/Cullen, Wade/G Anderson v Hopp/van de Pas, van Gerwen/Whitlock v Gurney/Price.

Sunday October 30 sees the quarter finals, semis and final.