Price leads the Welsh challenge on Ally Pally oche

THE 2019 PDC World Darts Championship gets underway tonight.

Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament...

When does the 2019 competition start?

The tournament gets underway this evening, with the opening match starting at 7pm. Defending champion Rob Cross will take on either Jeffrey de Zwaan or Nitin Kumar in the last of four matches on opening night.

How long is the competition on for?

Matches will take place every day from tonight through to December 23.

There will then be a four-day break over Christmas, with the tournament resuming on Thursday, December 27.

The final at Alexandra Palace takes place at 8pm on New Year’s Day.

Is it on TV?

Every single match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports’ dedicated Darts channel.

If you don’t have a Sky subscription, you can buy a Now TV Day Pass for £7.99 or a week pass for £12.99.

Are tickets still available?

There are still tickets remaining for some sessions.

You can purchase them on the PDC’s official website.

Are there any Welsh players involved?

Yes, there will be three Welsh players to look out for in the 2019 competition.

Gerwyn Price – who recently landed his maiden PDC title by beating Gary Anderson in controversial fashion at the Grand Slam of Darts - takes on the winner of the first round contest between Nathan Aspinall and Geert Nentjes in his first match.

Jonny Clayton will take on the victor of the clash between Dimitri van den Bergh and Chuck Puleo in his second round contest.

And Jamie Lewis – who reached the semi-finals last time out – will lock horns with either Martin Schindler or Cody Harris.

What prize money is on offer?

There is a record total of £2.5m in prize money on offer, £700,000 more than the amount dished out in the last tournament.

The winner will scoop an eye-watering £500,000 while the runner-up will bank £200,000.

As for the Welsh trio of Price, Clayton and Lewis, they will each be guaranteed a minimum pay-day of £15,000, given that they will start the competition at the second round phase due to being placed inside the top 32 of the world rankings.

Winner - £500,000 Runner-up - £200,000 Semi-finalists - £100,000

Quarter-finalists - £50,000 Last 16 losers - £35,000 Third round losers - £25,000 Second round losers - £15,000 First round losers - £7,500 Total prize fund: £2.5m

Who is the favourite to win?

Tournament winner odds (Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct at time of publishing)

Michael van Gerwen 6/4 Gary Anderson 7/2

Peter Wright 12/1 Michael Smith 16/1 Mensur Suljovic 20/1 Gerwyn Price 25/1

Rob Cross 25/1

Daryl Gurney 28/1 Jonny Clayton 175/1 Jamie Lewis 300/1