MIchael van Gerwen (Photo by Kieran Cleeves/PDC)
Michael van Gerwen will begin his defence of the German Darts Grand Prix title against Niko Springer or Jan Schmidt, with the draw and schedule confirmed for this weekend’s Easter event.
The fourth European Tour event of 2026 will see a bumper 48-player field competing for the £35,000 top prize in Munich from April 4-6, with four-time champion Van Gerwen amongst the star attractions.
Saturday’s first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions, with German star Springer one of six Host Nation representatives in action.
Reigning Hungarian Darts Trophy champion Springer kicks off his campaign against fellow countryman Schmidt, while Ricardo Pietreczko – also a former winner on the European Tour – meets three-time European Tour winner Ian White.
Two-time World Champion Peter Wright faces Kim Huybrechts in a battle of former European Tour winners, while 2023 champion Michael Smith takes on the in-form James Hurrell.
European Darts Trophy winner Wessel Nijman – also a Players Championship winner this week – locks horns with former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding in another bumper tie, as Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld plays Host Nation Qualifier Marcel Hausotter.
Scottish star Cameron Menzies and Czechia’s number one Karel Sedlacek go head-to-head, with Ireland’s William O’Connor pitted against Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki.
Elsewhere, Dirk van Duijvenbode opens his challenge against Stephen Burton, as former Masters champion Joe Cullen and Hungarian qualifier Patrik Kovacs also collide.
The top 16 players on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder enter the fray in round two on Sunday, as reigning champion Van Gerwen faces a potential clash against home favourite Springer.
Van Gerwen defeated his compatriot Gian van Veen to triumph in last year’s showpiece, and the European Champion returns to Munich as top seed in the absence of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.
The world number three will play either O’Connor or Bialecki in his opener, as third seed Jonny Clayton faces Van Barneveld or Hausotter.
Ten-time TV title winner James Wade enters the fray against Dutchman Kevin Doets or Sweden’s Anton Ostlund, while Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock takes on Ryan Joyce or Germany’s Finn Behrens.
Former European Champion Ritchie Edhouse or Host Nation Qualifier Kevin Troppmann await sixth seed Danny Noppert in round two, as the Dutchman continues his pursuit of a maiden European Tour title.
Fresh from capturing his eighth PDC ranking title on Monday at Players Championship 7, Ryan Searle marks his Munich return with a tussle against Poland’s premier player Krzysztof Ratajski or Thomas Lovely.
Nathan Aspinall – a three-time European Tour winner in 2025 – opens his title challenge against Pietreczko or White, as German number one Martin Schindler takes on Brendan Dolan or Cor Dekker.
Dave Chisnall will aim to continue his resurgence against fellow St Helens star Smith or Hurrell, with Daryl Gurney handed a tough opening assignment against Nijman or Gilding.
From the original list of entries, Gary Anderson, Luke Humphries, Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price have withdrawn from the event, and have been replaced by Andrew Gilding, Ian White, Karel Sedlacek and Cor Dekker from the Reserve List.
