The Unibet Premier League makes its debut in Berlin with a capacity 12,000 fans expected at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
The Premier League’s incredible growth since being introduced to the calendar in 2005 has seen the UK and Ireland’s leading arenas joined by Rotterdam Ahoy in hosting the sport’s top players.
Darts’ increasing popularity in Germany led to this year’s fourth league night being held in Berlin, with Thursday’s event set to welcome the PDC’s largest-ever crowd following an amazing response from fans.
The five massive matches in the German capital will begin with the meeting between the Premier League’s table-toppers as Simon Whitlock and Michael Smith bid to continue their winning starts to the season.
The pair were two of the three outsiders with sponsors Unibet ahead of the season, but after each picking up three victories to start the campaign sit two points clear of reigning champion Michael van Gerwen.
Smith concedes that his confidence is growing week-on-week during his strong start to the season, which has been accompanied by a ProTour victory earlier in February.
World number one Van Gerwen takes on World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney in another eagerly-awaited contest at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
The Dutchman averaged 110 in victory over Gary Anderson last week before winning both Players Championship events held in Barnsley over the weekend, and Van Gerwen is in confident mood travelling to Berlin.
Gurney is still chasing the first win of his debut Premier League season, and after twice allowing a lead to slip in taking a pair of draws the reigning World Grand Prix champion is looking to recapture his killer instinct this week.
World Champion Rob Cross picked up his first win of the season in Newcastle last week, and is aiming to continue his return to form against 2014 Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld in Berlin.
Van Barneveld is bidding to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Whitlock in Newcastle to claim his second win of the campaign.
UK Open finalist Gerwyn Price is set to take on Austria’s Mensur Suljovic, with the Welshman having drawn twice so far this season as he aims to claim his first win in Berlin.
Scottish pair Peter Wright and Gary Anderson also face off on Thursday – having previously teamed up in Germany to represent their country in the World Cup of Darts.
Unibet Match Odds – Night Four
23/20 Michael Smith 33/10 Draw 7/4 Simon Whitlock
33/20 Gerwyn Price 33/10 Draw 6/5 Mensur Suljovic
11/50 Michael van Gerwen 6/1 Draw 17/2 Daryl Gurney
4/5 Rob Cross 33/10 Draw 5/2 Raymond van Barneveld
2/1 Peter Wright 33/10 Draw Evens Gary Anderson