The 36-year-old Van Gerwen, three-time winner of the major tournament, will also play against Gary Anderson and the German Niko Springer. The 32 darts players participating in the Grand Slam of Darts tournament, which starts on Saturday in Wolverhampton, start in the group phase. Numbers one and two advance to the knockout phase.
Tough draw for Gian van Veen: European champion meets defending champion Luke Humphries in Players Championship Finals
Plenty of Dutch people in action
Next to Mighty Mike four more Dutch people take action. New European champion Gian van Veen will compete against fellow countryman Wessel Nijman, Josh Rock and Lisa Ashton. Danny Noppert plays against Jonny Clayton, Lukas Wenig and Cam Crabtree.
Darts sensation Gian van Veen (23) in disbelief after European Championship win: ‘My hand was red with blood’
Jurjen van der Velde, who participated in the Darts World Cup for the first time in December and lost the final of the youth World Cup to Van Veen last year, faces Chris Dobey, Damon Heta and Martin Lukeman. World number 1 Luke Humphries and defending champion Littler are also participating in the tournament, which starts on November 8.