The 2024 TOTO Dutch Darts Masters begins tonight featuring Michael Smith and St Helens Darts Academy product Luke Littler.

The second staging of the World Series of Darts event will take place at De Maaspoort in Den Bosch from January 26-27, as the 16-player field compete for the Toon Greebe Trophy, which was unveiled at Thursday’s launch event at Den Bosch Town Hall.

Top seed Luke Littler has been pitted against 2022 runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode in another stand-out tie, as the teenage sensation sets his sights on back-to-back World Series crowns.

The 17-year-old enjoyed a dream World Series debut in Bahrain last week, defeating Nathan Aspinall, Price and Van Gerwen to triumph, having also landed a nine-darter in his quarter-final tie against Aspinall.

“I had not picked a dart up since the World Championship final, so I wasn’t expecting anything,” admitted the World Youth Champion.

“I was really happy to beat three great players in Nathan, Gezzy and Michael. It was amazing!

“I believe in my own ability and that is what gets me over the line each time.

“The standard is going to be good once again. It’s going to be tough, but it should be a great weekend, and it would be a massive bonus to win another title.”

Friday’s first round will pit the eight PDC superstars against the eight Benelux representatives, as defending champion Van den Bergh and Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld also feature.

However, Dutch number one Michael Van Gerwen will take centre stage on a star-studded opening night, as he plays his close friend Van der Voort for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It’s probably one of the closest venues you can get to my house, so I’m really looking forward to it,” revealed Van Gerwen, a runner-up in last week’s Bahrain Darts Masters.

“It is always really special to play in front of your home crowd, and I’m feeling very confident.

“I think the way I performed in Bahrain was quite impressive. I was disappointed with the way I played in the final, but that’s how darts goes sometimes.

“You have to learn from it, but I’m feeling good and I think the crowd can help me a lot, although you still have to perform yourself!”

2023 World Champion Michael Smith will take on World Youth Championship finalist Gian van Veen, while former UK Open champions Aspinall and Danny Noppert renew their rivalry.

Following Friday's first round, the 2024 Dutch Darts Masters concludes on Saturday with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in one bumper session.

The TOTO Dutch Darts Masters will be broadcast on Viaplay and RTL7 in the Netherlands, while global coverage includes ITV3 and ITV4 in the UK, DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with coverage also available on PDCTV.

2024 TOTO Dutch Darts Masters.

Draw Bracket.

(1) Luke Littler v Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena.

(4) Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Peter Wright v Kevin Doets.

(2) Michael van Gerwen v Vincent van der Voort.

Rob Cross v Raymond van Barneveld.

(3) Michael Smith v Gian van Veen.

Nathan Aspinall v Danny Noppert.

TOTO Dutch Darts Masters Session Schedule - and when Luke Littler plays.

Friday January 26 (1900 local time).

First Round x8.

Nathan Aspinall v Danny Noppert.

Peter Wright v Kevin Doets.

Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Michael Smith v Gian van Veen.

Rob Cross v Raymond van Barneveld.

Luke Littler v Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Luke Humphries v Jermaine Wattimena.

Michael van Gerwen v Vincent van der Voort.

Saturday January 27 (1900 local time).

Quarter-Finals.

Semi-Finals.

Final.

Format.

First Round - Best of 11 legs.

Quarter-Finals - Best of 11 legs.

Semi-Finals - Best of 13 legs.

Final - Best of 15 legs.