Defending champion Michael van Gerwen is looking for a fifth BoyleSports World Grand Prix title.

Van Gerwen will open his defence against Jamie Hughes on Sunday October 16, with the draw for the Dublin event also pitting Rob Cross against Mensur Suljovic.

World number one Van Gerwen picked up his fourth World Grand Prix win in 2018, having also been victorious at the Citywest Convention Centre in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

The World Champion and 7/4 pre-tournament favourite with sponsors BoyleSports has picked up a tough opener in this year’s 32-player event, drawing Jamie Hughes.

Tipton ace Hughes will be making his World Grand Prix debut when this year’s tournament is held from October 6-12, having impressed by winning the Czech Darts Open in June.

Two-time World Grand Prix champion James Wade – 22/1 chance to secure a hat-trick of titles – will face John Henderson, who was a semi-finalist two years ago after opening the event with a defeat of Van Gerwen.

Number two seed and 10/1 chance Rob Cross, the 2019 World Matchplay winner, has drawn world number nine Mensur Suljovic in another tasty first round tie, while 2017 World Grand Prix winner Daryl Gurney plays Dutchman Danny Noppert.

Third favourite Gary Anderson, who is 9/1 with BoyleSports, plays former World Youth Champion Keegan Brown, while world number five Michael Smith has drawn Simon Whitlock, the 2017 Dublin runner-up.

Reigning Grand Slam of Darts champion Gerwyn Price, the sixth seed, plays Dave Chisnall, while seventh seed Peter Wright – the 8/1 second favourite – will take on another former World Youth Champion, Germany’s Max Hopp.

Glen Durrant’s debut in the double-start event will see him come up against Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski, while reigning World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh drew 2012 World Grand Prix finalist Mervyn King.

Steve Beaton – a semi-finalist in Dublin 15 years ago – will meet Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan, while two 2019 European Tour event winners, Ian White and Joe Cullen, also face off.

2010 Dublin finalist Adrian Lewis plays Jermaine Wattimena, UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall opens up against Vincent van der Voort, Stephen Bunting plays Wales’ Jonny Clayton and Ricky Evans meets Chris Dobey.

The players in the top half of the draw will play their first round ties on Sunday, with the bottom half of the draw in action on Monday evening at the Citywest Convention Centre.

Sunday’s winners will compete in Tuesday’s second round ties, with Monday’s winners returning to the stage on Wednesday.

The quarter-finals will then be held on Thursday night, with the semi-finals on Friday ahead of Saturday’s final, which will be preceded by the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay final between Keane Barry and Liam Gallagher.

2019 BoyleSports World Grand Prix Draw 

(1) Michael van Gerwen v Jamie Hughes
Jeffrey de Zwaan v Steve Beaton
(8) James Wade v John Henderson
Mervyn King v Dimitri Van den Bergh
(5) Michael Smith v Simon Whitlock
Joe Cullen v Ian White
(4) Gary Anderson v Keegan Brown
Ricky Evans v Chris Dobey
(2) Rob Cross v Mensur Suljovic
Glen Durrant v Krzysztof Ratajski
(7) Peter Wright v Max Hopp
Adrian Lewis v Jermaine Wattimena
(6) Gerwyn Price v Dave Chisnall
Stephen Bunting v Jonny Clayton
(3) Daryl Gurney v Danny Noppert
Vincent van der Voort v Nathan Aspinall

Schedule of Play
Sunday October 6 (1900)
First Round x8
Ricky Evans v Chris Dobey
Mervyn King v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Joe Cullen v Ian White
Jeffrey de Zwaan v Steve Beaton
James Wade v John Henderson
Michael Smith v Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen v Jamie Hughes
Gary Anderson v Keegan Brown

Monday October 7 (1900)
First Round x8
Stephen Bunting v Jonny Clayton
Vincent van der Voort v Nathan Aspinall
Adrian Lewis v Jermaine Wattimena
Glen Durrant v Krzysztof Ratajski
Daryl Gurney v Danny Noppert
Gerwyn Price v Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross v Mensur Suljovic
Peter Wright v Max Hopp

Tuesday October 8 (1900)
Second Round x4
Wade/Henderson v King/Van den Bergh
Smith/Whitlock v Cullen/White
Van Gerwen/Hughes v De Zwaan/Beaton
Anderson/Brown v Evans/Dobey

Wednesday October 9 (1900)
Second Round x4
Gurney/Noppert v Van der Voort/Aspinall
Price/Chisnall v Bunting/Clayton
Cross/Suljovic v Durrant/Ratajski
Wright/Hopp v Lewis/Wattimena

Thursday October 10 (1900)
Quarter-Finals

Friday October 11 (1900)
Semi-Finals

Saturday October 12 (2000)
Final
Preceded by Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay Final (1900)
Liam Gallagher v Keane Barry
Best of 11 legs

Sarah Kinsella, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Michael van Gerwen is the clear favourite at 7/4 although he has drifted from 6/4. The 2018 PDC World Darts Champion Rob Cross is 10/1 while Peter Wright is the 8/1 second favourite but was 12/1 a few days ago. The competition kicks off on October 6th with MVG chasing his 5th title and it promises to be a cracking week of darts in which we are proud to sponsor.”