Fifteen Dutch players in PDC world darts championships

The PDC world darts championship returns to Alexandra Palace in London this week for what organisers say will be the biggest edition yet, featuring a record 128 players including 15 from the Netherlands.

The Dutch squad is the second biggest in the tournament, which features 41 English players, eight from Germany and five from Scotland and Belgium among the line-up.

The 33rd staging of the event also comes with a doubled prize fund of £5 million, with £1 million for the winner.

Among the Dutch contingent are established names Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld, who is making his 33rd world championship appearance across the PDC and BDO competitions.

Other Dutch players to watch include Gian van Veen, 23, who retained his youth world title in November after winning the European Championship a month earlier. Wessel Nijman is another rising talent, while Danny Noppert has climbed to sixth in the world rankings after a strong autumn.

Dirk van Duijvenbode, Jermaine Wattimena and trans woman player Noa-Lynn van Leuven have also qualified.

Defending champion Luke Littler, still only 18, is the clear favourite after dominating the past two seasons, with Luke Humphries regarded as his closest rival.