THE 888.com Premier League Darts season begins at London's O2 Arena on Thursday night, with the four games including reigning champion Phil Taylor taking on World Champion Adrian Lewis in an all-Unicorn clash.
The first of 14 league nights held in arenas across the UK will see the eight stars, including five from Team Unicorn, do battle in front of 10,000 fans in the capital, with the action being screened live on Sky Sports 3D.
Unicorn’s 2009 champion James Wade will meet debutant Mark Webster in the first of four games on the night, before five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld plays Terry Jenkins in the third game in another all-Unicorn clash.
"I'm really excited about the new season and to play Adrian in front of such a massive crowd is a great way to start," said Taylor, who ended a six-month gap without a major title by taking victory in last weekend's Players Championship Finals.
"Adrian did brilliantly to win the World Championship and he's probably still on a high from that, and I'm looking forward to playing him.
"I love the Premier League format and it's my intention to keep hold of the trophy in May - but I know the other seven players are after me and it's a great challenge."
Taylor created history in winning last year's Premier League Darts by hitting two nine-dart finishes in the final against Wade, and he said: "That was possibly the most special moment of my career.
"It would be fantastic to do that again and hopefully during the course of the Premier League I'll be back in that form. I've changed darts recently but am working hard and winning the Players Championship Finals was a boost."
Lewis had won his first televised game against Taylor in the World Grand Prix last October, and said: "I love playing Phil and can't wait for Thursday.
"It's one of the biggest nights of my career but it's only the first of 14 weeks where we're trying to get into the play-offs. I've been practising well and need to take that on stage against Phil."
Dutch ace Raymond van Barneveld missed out on the play-offs last season for the first time since he entered the event in 2006, but he hit a nine-darter in Aberdeen amongst three successive wins to end the 2010 campaign on a high.
"Last year was the first time I didn't make the top four in the Premier League .It was really disappointing and that's the first target - to get in the top four, and then I can dream of winning it," said Barney.
Over 80,000 tickets have been sold so far for the 888.com Premier League Darts, while each night is screened live on Sky Sports HD, as well as on Sky 3D for Thursday's opening night at The O2.
Each game is the best of 14 legs, with players earning two league points for a win and one for a draw. The top four players after the 14 league nights will then progress to the play-offs on May 19 at the Wembley Arena to challenge for the £125,000 title.
"This is undoubtedly the greatest line-up of players in the history of the 888.com Premier League Darts," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"Last year's Premier League Darts came to an incredible conclusion in the play-offs with Phil's nine-darters, and that alone has set the standard for this year's event.
"All eight of the players will want to hit two, or even three, nine-darters and it promises to be 15 sensational weeks. That view is clearly shared by the fans across the country who will turn up in record numbers to watch the tournament."
888.com Premier League Darts
Week One Fixtures
February 10 - The O2, London
Mark Webster v James Wade
Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 856 0202 or www.theo2.co.uk
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC