PDC Darts World Championship 2014 schedule: Michael van Gerwen vs Joe Cullen, John Part vs Keegan Brown and Wes Newton all in action

A full schedule of the Darts World Championship on Thursday 18th December 2014

Reigning darts world champion Michael van Gerwen (Getty Images)

The 2014 Darts World Championship gets underway on Thursday as Michael van Gerwen takes to the stage at the Alexandra Palace to defend the crown he won in thrilling circumstances last year.

This year's champion will be crown on Sunday 4 January with the usual suspects looking to battle their way through the best in world through six rounds of action.

Van Gerwen clinched his first world championship last year having lost the 2012 final to Phil Taylor - the 16-time world champion begins his campaign on Wednesday.

The action gets underway tonight with two-time world champion John Part taking on Keegan Brown, with the Canadian looking to add to his titles that he won in 2003 and 2008. The first preliminary match is up second with Christian Perez of the Philippines taking on Spaniard Cristo Reyes, with the winner taking on Wes Newton in the final match of the session.

Dutchman Jelle Klaasen takes on his compatriot Christian Kist in the third encounter, before reigning champion Van Gerwen faces Joe Cullen of England.

Thursday 18 December 2014 - full schedule:

7pm – John Part v Keegan Brown (first round)

8.15pm – Christian Perez v Cristo Reyes (preliminary round)

9pm – Jelle Klaasen v Christian Kist (first round)

10pm – Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen (first round)

11pm – Wes Newton v Perez/Reyes (first round)