2018 PDC World Championships preview: van Gerwen the clear favourite at Alexandra Palace

The 25th edition of the PDC World Championships rolls into town on Thursday, as darts fans are treated to 18 days of pure tungsten theatre.

72 players will compete for the famous ‘Sid Waddell Trophy’ - named after the Geordie darts commentator who helped transform the game into the global brand it is today.

Michael van Gerwen became a two-time World Champion last year as he beat Gary Anderson in an exhilarating final, and he arrives at the Alexandra Palace in London, as the overwhelming favourite for a third world title.

He opens the show this evening against 2012 BDO World Champion Christian Kist, who has struggled badly through injury this year, and is unlikely to prove too much of a hurdle in MVG’s pursuit of the £400,000 first prize.

Emerging stars Mensur Suljovic and Daryl Gurney will be confident of success after winning major titles in 2017, while the rise of debutant Rob Cross this year has seen him competing at the latter-end of major tournaments.

All three players are in van Gerwen’s half of the draw, however, as is five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld - who famously knocked van Gerwen out in 2015.