Michael Smith to start world title defence against Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz

Michael Smith has been handed a tough start to the 2024 PDC World Championship with a second-round tie against Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz.

The world number one has been in indifferent form of late, suffering an early exit at the Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals, and he will have to improve at Alexandra Palace.

Standing in his way could be Buntz, who recently reached the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals, if the American can overcome Doets in their last-96 clash.

Luke Humphries, the winner of three of the last four televised majors, will begin his campaign versus either Lee Evans or Sandro Eric Sosing.

Michael van Gerwen goes up against either Keane Barry or Reynaldo Rivera, while Gerwyn Price has been handed a meeting with either Connor Scutt or Krzysztof Kciuk.

Either Jim Williams or Norman Madhoo stand in the way of Peter Wright, and Gary Anderson could go up against Simon Whitlock if the Australian gets the better of Paolo Nebrida.

Fallon Sherrock will set up a clash with Martin Schindler if she can overcome Jermaine Wattimena, while Mikuru Suzuki goes up against Ricardo Pietreczko with the victor squaring off against Callum Rydz.

Draw in full:

Michael Smith vs. Kevin Doets/Stowe Buntz Madars Razma vs. Mike de Decker/Dragutin Horvat Ross Smith vs. Niels Zonneveld/Darren Webster Chris Dobey vs. William O'Connor/Bhav Patel Rob Cross vs. Mario Vandenbogaerde/Tribault Tricole Jose De Sousa vs. Ritchie Edhouse/Jeffrey de Graaf Jonny Clayton vs. Steve Lennon/Owen Bates Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Jamie Hughes/David Cameron Peter Wright vs. Jim Williams/Norman Madhoo Raymond van Barneveld vs. Radek Szaganski/Marko Kantele James Wade vs. Matt Campbell/Lawrence Ilagan Andrew Gilding vs. Christian Kist/Luke Littler Gerwyn Price vs. Connor Scutt/Krzysztof Kciuk Brendan Dolan vs. Micky Mansell/Xiaochen Zong Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Keegan Brown/Boris Krcmar Gary Anderson vs. Simon Whitlock/Paolo Nebrida Michael van Gerwen vs. Keane Barry/Reynaldo Rivera Kim Huybrechts vs. Richard Veenstra/Ben Robb Dimitri van den Bergh vs. Dylan Slevin/Florian Hempl Stephen Bunting vs. Ryan Joyce/Alex Spellman Danny Noppert vs. Scott Williams/Haruki Muramatsu Martin Schindler vs. Jermaine Wattimena/Fallon Sherrock Damon Heta vs. Martin Lukeman/Haupai Puha Josh Rock vs. Luke Woodhouse/Berry van Peer Luke Humphries vs. Lee Evans/Sandro Eric Sosing Callum Rydz vs. Ricardo Pietreczko/Mikuru Suzuki Joe Cullen vs. Jules van Dongen/Darren Penhall Ryan Searle vs. Ian White/Tomoya Goto Nathan Aspinall vs. Ricky Evans/Simon Adams Daryl Gurney vs. Steve Beaton/Wessel Nijman Dave Chisnall vs. Cameron Menzies/Rusty-Jake Rodriguez Gabriel Clemens vs. Gian van Veen/Man Lok Leung