Announcements

DAVE Chisnall will meet legendary 16-time World Champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor on the opening night of the 2017 Betway Premier League season at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Thursday February 2.

The St Helens darter is among the ten-strong field of elite players who begin the four-month tour of Great Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands next month.

The fixtures were confirmed this week - and one aspect of the draw has not done him any favours.

On night six he will face Scot Gary Anderson in the last match of the night at the fiercely partisan SSE Hydro, Glasgow.

In 2015 fellow St Helener Stephen Bunting suffered some horrendous barracking at the same venue when losing a 5-1 lead against Peter Wright, eventually drawing.

The opening nine weeks see the players meet once in the league phase before the bottom two players are eliminated following Judgement Night in Cardiff.

The remaining eight players then face each other once more in the remaining six league nights in April and May before the top four players progress to compete in the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 18.

On night two at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena Chisnall takes on Adrian Lewis.

The Premier League’s visit to Leeds for Night Three on February 16 sees Chisnall clash with Kim Huybrechts.

While in week four at The Brighton Centre Jelle Klaasen is the opponent.

The visit to Exeter’s Westpoint Arena on March 2 for night five sees Chisnall open against Raymond Van Barneveld.

After the Anderson meeting in Glasgow March 9, night seven sees the tournament return to a sold-out Rotterdam, where Wright is Chisnall’s opponent.

The penultimate league night before Judgement Night he takes on James Wade at the Manchester Arena on March 23.

Judgement Night, the final league night before the bottom two players are eliminated, sees Chizzy take on Michael Van Gerwen in Cardiff.

The fixtures for the remaining league nights will be confirmed following Judgement Night as the remaining players then jostle for Play-Off places.