PREMIER League champion Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler will be looking to continue his staggering first season in top-flight darts in the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

The 17-year-old, who spent his early years growing up in Runcorn, will be making his debut in the prestigious event and is not seeded.

If he is to add to his tally of brilliant title successes already this year, firstly he will have to overcome the mighty hurdle of world number two and three-times winner Michael van Gerwen in the tie of the first round.

They will be on stage around 9.15pm in the final session of the opening round on Monday night, live on Sky Sports.

Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen

"It's a blockbuster first round tie," admitted Littler, who has won four of his nine meetings against the Dutchman this year.

"It's going to be a completely new experience for myself on debut, but I've been putting the practice in, and I can't wait to get on that Winter Gardens stage.

"Playing Michael - I know I bring the best out of him, and he brings the best out of me. We always have good games, so I'm expecting the same on Monday.

"It would mean everything to beat a player like Michael in the first round, and I think the draw could open up for either one of us, so if I could get past Michael, I would fancy my chances for another good run."

As well as winning his debut Premier League campaign this year and four of the weekly rounds, he has been crowned Bahrain Masters, Belgium Open, Austrian Open and Player Championship 1 champion.

This all followed finishing runner-up in his maiden World Championships appearance.

And he has achieved magical nine-darters four times on the way to his array of successes.

They came in the Bahrain Masters, Belgium Darts Open, Austrian Open and the Premier League, equalling the record for the most by an individual thrower in any one year.

Littler will go into the tournament as the second favourite, behind world number one and the man he conquered in the Premier League Final, Luke Humphries.

Action in the World Matchplay will run across nine days from Saturday, with the showpiece event of the darting summer featuring the sport’s biggest names.

The latest edition of the £800,000 event will see reigning champion and Littler’s stablemate Nathan Aspinall headlining a star-studded 32-player field.

The first round will see the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit take on the 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit, with Aspinall pitted against debutant Luke Woodhouse on Saturday night.

Nathan Aspinall v Luke Woodhouse

"It’s going to be a tough game, but it’s one I am confident that I can come through," said Aspinall, who is aiming to emulate Rod Harrington, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen by retaining the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy.

"Blackpool has always been a place where I’ve performed well. This is my local tournament, and every year I play at the World Matchplay the crowds are amazing.

"I’ve got special memories here, and obviously all my friends and family were there when I lifted the trophy last year. That moment will live with me until the day I die.

"It’s going to be difficult, but I believe I can win it again. My girls are going to be with me again this year, and I’m going to try and walk on that stage, make them proud and hopefully win another title."

Aspinall produced an inspired display to defeat Jonny Clayton in last year's final, and the Welshman will also feature on a star-studded opening night when he takes on 2010 runner-up Raymond van Barneveld.

Gerwyn Price - a finalist in 2022 - will play two-time semi-finalist Daryl Gurney in the tournament's curtain-raiser, while top seed Luke Humphries opens his challenge against German newcomer Ricardo Pietreczko in Saturday's penultimate clash.

Following his run to the semi-finals 12 months ago, Humphries remarkably won 26 of his next 27 televised ranking matches, following up World Grand Prix, Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals success by lifting the sport's biggest prize by beating Littler in the World Championship Final in January.

Luke Littler v Ricardo Pietreczko

"I do think last year’s World Matchplay was when the tide turned for me and I started to get that belief," revealed Humphries - the pre-tournament favourite with title sponsor Betfred.

"This is the second biggest tournament in the calendar in my opinion, so it will be an extra special feeling to go back there as World Champion and world number one.

"I feel like this year’s field is the strongest World Matchplay line-up I’ve ever seen, so I’m going to have to produce my A-game if I’m going to lift the title, that’s for sure.

"Winning the World Matchplay would be a dream for me. It would be absolutely unbelievable, and I know if I turn up and play my own game, then I stand a great chance."

Sunday’s bumper double session will see former champions Rob Cross, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Peter Wright and James Wade in action, with 2020 champion Van den Bergh up against German number one Martin Schindler for a place in the last 16.

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Martin Schindler

"I’ve played in Blackpool a couple of times now and I’ve never won my first game there, so that is my target,” outlined Schindler, who succumbed 10-8 to Gerwyn Price and Danny Noppert in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

"I could have drawn Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen or Michael Smith, so it could have been even tougher, but obviously Dimitri is a major champion [UK Open] this year, so he’s not a player to be underestimated.

"My game has risen consistently over the last couple of years. I've been working really hard and now I am getting my rewards.

"If I keep scoring like I have been and I hit my checkouts under pressure, then I definitely believe I have a chance of winning this title."

Sunday's afternoon session will also see 2007 winner James Wade begin his 19th consecutive World Matchplay campaign against 2022 semi-finalist Danny Noppert, as Masters champion Stephen Bunting meets the returning Ryan Joyce.

Former European Champion Ross Smith faces an in-form Josh Rock in Sunday's opener, before 2019 champion Cross plays Dutch debutant Gian van Veen to kick off the evening session, which begins from 4.30pm – brought forward so as not to clash with England football team’s bid to win the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Berlin.

2021 winner Wright will renew his rivalry with former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall meets Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski, while 2023 semi-finalist Joe Cullen locks horns with Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan.

The first round concludes with the blockbuster line-up on Monday evening.

As well as Littler against Van Gerwen, world number three Michael Smith and 2018 champion Gary Anderson will collide in another mouth-watering tussle while 2023 quarter-finalists Damon Heta and Ryan Searle will do battle, before former Masters champion Chris Dobey enters the fray against debutant Ritchie Edhouse.

Following the completion of the first round, round two takes place across Tuesday and Wednesday, with the quarter-finals staged next Thursday and Friday.

The semi-finals will take place on Saturday, July 20, before the final is held following the third edition of the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay on Sunday, July 21.