PICTURES from the first round of the 2015 Unibet European Championship at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt, Belgium.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN and Phil Taylor laid down the challenge to their rivals at the Unibet European Championship with huge averages in second round victories at the Ethias Arena on Saturday.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN overcame a scare against Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan as he opened his defence of the Unibet European Championship with a 6-2 win on Friday, as Kim Huybrechts delighted the home crowd in Belgium by defeating Mervyn King.

THE Unibet European Championship kicks off in Belgium on Friday, as Michael van Gerwen begins his bid to retain the title against Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan as part of a mouth-watering first round in the £300,000 event.

INFORMATION, schedule of play and draw for the 2015 Unibet European Championship.

DARTS fans will be able to buy a unique CD later this year, with "Game On! The Sound Of Darts" to be released on November 20.

Coming soon..

JOHN MICHAEL, Aleksandr Oreshkin and Alex Tagarao have won places in the William Hill World Darts Championship following their victories in the Southern Europe, Russian and Philippines qualifiers.

GARY ANDERSON will begin his defence of the Cash Converters Players Championship Finals title against Phil Taylor when the £300,000 tournament begins at the Butlins Minehead Resort on Friday November 27.

REIGNING World Champion Gary Anderson defeated James Wade 6-2 in the final of the year's last Players Championship.