A BETWAY Premier League Darts record crowd will welcome the world's top players to the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Thursday, as the battle to avoid elimination from the tournament intensifies.

PICTURES from the Betway Premier League Darts at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

PETER WRIGHT is aiming to continue his unbeaten Betway Premier League Darts campaign when he faces Raymond van Barneveld at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Thursday.

THE 2014 European Championship is to be held across three days from October 24-26, live on ITV4.

THE entries for the German Darts Masters, the year's third European Tour event, have been confirmed, with the UK Qualifier on March 21 followed by the main event from April 19-21.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN won the second Players Championship of 2014 after a 6-1 victory in the final against Dean Winstanley at the Barnsley Metrodome on Sunday.

GARY ANDERSON defeated Andrew Gilding 6-5 in a thrilling final to win the first Players Championship of 2014 at Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday.

THE forthcoming PDC Development Tour events and PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship have been subject to some alterations and the addition of a further weekend in Coventry.

THE entries for the second Players Championship double-header of the year have been confirmed, for the tournaments at the K2 Centre in Crawley on March 22 & 23.

PHIL TAYLOR claimed his second victory of the Betway Premier League Darts season with a 7-5 defeat of Dave Chisnall in Nottingham on Thursday, as Peter Wright continued his unbeaten start to the campaign against Simon Whitlock.