REIGNING Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters champion Michael van Gerwen began his bid to win the tournament for a third successive year with a hard-fought win over Raymond van Barneveld on Thursday - Round-Up here.

NETHERLANDS duo Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld will begin their defence of the Bwin World Cup of Darts title against the United States of America in next month's 32-nation event in Frankfurt.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN will begin his bid to win a third successive Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters title against Raymond van Barneveld on Thursday, as World Champion Gary Anderson meets James Wade on his World Series of Darts debut.

JAMES WADE has stated his aim to return to the world's top five as he prepares for the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters.

ENTRIES are still available for the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Events 5-8 on May 30 & 31 in Wigan.

FOLLOWING the completion of the Betway Premier League and back-to-back Players Championship weekends, May's action continues with the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters on May 28 & 29.

PETER WRIGHT lifted his sixth career title having overcome Jelle Klaasen 6-1 in the final of Sunday's Players Championship in Barnsley.

DAVE CHISNALL claimed his first ranking victory for over 18 months by overcoming nine-dart star Ian White 6-1 in Saturday's Player Championship final.

RUGBY World Cup winner Mike 'The Tornado' Tindall secured bragging rights over football rivals Joey O'Brien, James Collins and Kevin Nolan in the first ever #RugbyvFootball head-to-head leg of 501, live at the Betway Premier League Play-Offs.

PICTURES from the 2015 Betway Premier League Play-Offs at The O2 in London.