New South Wales Darts Masters - Preview
ASPINALL TO TAKE ON WHITLOCK IN WOLLONGONG OPENER
Nathan Aspinall will take on Australian icon Simon Whitlock in the opening round of the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters, with the draw for this weekend's event now confirmed.
The second leg of the PDC's World Series of Darts Oceanic double-header takes place in Wollongong on August 11-12, as 16 players compete at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
Friday's first round will see the eight PDC stars take on eight Oceanic representatives, with World Matchplay champion Aspinall pitted against home hero Whitlock in the stand-out last 16 tie.
NZ Darts Masters champion Rob Cross - who defeated Aspinall in last weekend's decider - will begin his bid for back-to-back World Series titles against DartPlayers New Zealand qualifier John Hurring, whose only previous World Series appearance came five years ago.
Top seed Gerwyn Price kicks off his campaign against Melbourne's Harley Kemp, while World Champion Michael Smith will open his challenge against former World Championship qualifier Mal Cuming.
Fresh from his shock first round defeat in Hamilton, Peter Wright is eyeing a return to winning ways in Wollongong, as he prepares to take on DartPlayers Australia number one Darren Penhall.
Australia's number one Damon Heta - who was moved into the PDC representatives after Jonny Clayton's withdrawal - will play compatriot Joe Comito for a place in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh faces the experienced Dave Marland, while Dutch number two Danny Noppert plays big stage debutant Brenton Lloyd in the tournament's curtain-raiser.