TEENAGE WONDERKID Michael van Gerwen is hoping to light up Wolverhampton in the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.
The 18-year-old Dutchman has taken the world of darts by storm in the past 18 months, becoming the hottest prospect in the sport in the process.
The World Masters champion is one of the eight seeded players for the event, and opens his challenge on Saturday afternoon against Scott Waites, before meeting Roland Scholten and Mervyn King in his other group stage games on Sunday and Tuesday.
Van Gerwen is relishing the chance to return to the big stage, having struggled for form at times away from the TV cameras this year.
"It's a very big tournament with huge prize money and all the best players in the world are playing at Wolverhampton, so I am looking forward to it," said van Gerwen, nicknamed "Mighty Mike".
"I am up against three fast players in the group stage, which will be good for me, I can get rhythm against them.
"I think it will be better for me on stage. I always like playing on stage and seem to play well there."
Van Gerwen shot to fame with a number of tournament wins at 16 years old, and then claimed the World Masters title 12 months ago, coming from 4-1 down to defeat Martin Adams.
"That felt great," said van Gerwen. "It was a very nice tournament to win, and the changes that have been made this year mean I was the last player to win it through the old system.
"I'm proud of that and hopefully I can have lots more wins in the future too - starting in the Grand Slam!"
Van Gerwen moved over from the BDO circuit to join the PDC in January alongside Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort, and has already played in the World Matchplay and moved into the top 50 of the PDC Order of Merit.
"I have met a lot of new players and it has been a new format for me, which takes some time to get used to," he said.
"It's like if you go to work for a new company, you need to learn and I'm doing that.
"I probably have to learn more than anybody else, because I am so young. But I am learning from people like Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor, as well as Jelle and Vincent."
Tickets for the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts, which is being held from 17-25 November - are still available from the Midlands Box Office. Call 0870 320 7000 or visit www.wolvescivic.co.uk for more details.