THE countdown is underway ahead of the opening night of the 2015 Betway Premier League in Leeds on Thursday - with a sell-out crowd of over 11,000 fans expected to pack the First Direct Arena.

THE PDC will break new ground with televised events in Japan and Belgium for the first time in 2015.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN picked up the 2015 Unibet Masters title with a thrilling 11-6 win over Raymond van Barneveld in their all-Dutch final at ArenaMK in Milton Keynes on Sunday night.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN edged out Dave Chisnall in a Unibet Masters classic to reach the semi-finals of the £200,000 event alongside Adrian Lewis, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson.

PICTURES from the 2015 Unibet Masters at ArenaMK.

TERRY JENKINS knocked Phil Taylor out of The Unibet Masters with a 10-7 first round at ArenaMK on Saturday night as reigning champion James Wade began his title defence with a 10-3 win over Mervyn King.

JAMES WADE will face Mervyn King in a rematch of the 2014 Unibet Masters final when this year's tournament kicks off on Saturday - full preview here.

ADRIAN LEWIS will put friendship aside when he faces Stoke rival Ian White in The Unibet Masters in Milton Keynes on Saturday.

THE PDC have confirmed prize fund increases for the Coral UK Open Televised Finals, European Championship and The Unibet Masters.

ALMOST 250 players will compete in the first three Coral UK Open Qualifiers at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan from February 6-8.