Michael Smith's World Darts Championship defence begins against either Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz on December 15 as pre-Christmas schedule is released

Michael Smith will start his World Darts Championship title defence on December 15 as the pre-Christmas schedule for the 2024 has been released. 

Bully Boy sealed a maiden WDC win earlier this year at his third attempt over Michael van Gerwen with an exceptional performance at Alexandra Palace in a replay of the 2019 final. 

Smith had also been defeated by Peter Wright at the same stage in 2022, but went World No 1 after beating Van Gerwen. 

This time round, though, Smith will have to see off either Kevin Doets or Stowe Buntz in Round Two in the most eye-catching of four clashes, after the pair face off earlier in the day. 

The second day will see the likes of Dave Chisnall take on the winner of Cameron Menzies and Rusty-Jake Rodiguez in the afternoon session, before Gary Anderson brings an end to the day's play against either Simon Whitlock or Paolo Nebrida.

Sunday December 17 will see Luke Humphries' clash with the winner of Lee Evans and Sandro Eric Sosing, before Monday's offering of Gerwyn Price v Keane Barry or Reynaldo Rivera at 7pm. 

Smith's victor in 2022 Wright will take on Jim Williams or Norman Madhoo as the Second Round clashes continue in the run-up to Christmas on December 20, followed by Rob Cross v Mario Vandenbogaerde or Thibault Tricole the day after.

Raymond van Barneveld enters the fray with the winner of Radek Szaganski and Marko Kantele in the evening session of Friday December 22, with two more mouth-watering ties on the day before Christmas Eve. 

Stephen Bunting faces either Ryan Joyce or Alex Spellman and Nathan Aspinall takes on the victor of Rickey Evans and Simon Adams in the final match before the third and fourth rounds get up and running on December 27. 

The quarter-finals will then begin on New Years Day, with two matches in the afternoon (from 12.30pm) and two more in the evening (from 7pm), with both semis taking place the following evening. 

The grand final of the WDC is slated for 7pm on Wednesday January 3, with Smith hoping to turn his maiden crown into back-to-back titles at the end of a gruelling tournament. 

There is set to be a slight change at this year's event, with the traditionally-red Treble 20 set to be coloured green to mark the first year of a partnership with Paddy Power. 

Defending champion Smith told Mail Sport: ‘I have had a practice on the new boards. My darts are in the 140s at the moment. There is nothing wrong with it. 

'The difference is when I am throwing for treble 20, I end up going for tops (the still-red double 20). 

'There’s a bit of a colour clash. Three weeks working on it and it should be fine.’ 

This year’s tournament, which starts on December 15, is set to be one of the most open in recent memory, with Luke Humphries now the bookmakers’ favourite to take home the £500,000 prize. 

He won the Players Championship Finals on Sunday. Another one to watch is 16-year-old Luke Littler of England, ‘The Nuke’, who won the World Youth Championship on Sunday.