After the competition was created in 2008, Van Gerwen and English darts legend Phil Taylor have both won four titles.

With Van Gerwen the world number one, an unprecedented fifth title is a true possibility this year, although the Dutchman has not won this event since 2017.

The top 32 players on the European Tour Order of Merit qualify for the tournament and will compete for a prize pot of £500,000 ($649,000/€552,000) from tomorrow until Sunday (November 1) at König-Pilsener-Arena.

The event is scheduled to be staged with fans, although that could change as Germany announced new coronavirus restrictions today.

Van Gerwen will play Darius Labanauskas of Lithuania in the opening round.

Wales' Gerwyn Price faces Belgium's Kim Huybrechts, while world number three Peter Wright of Scotland will play home favourite Gabriel Clemens.

Mensur Suljović of Austria and Daryl Gurney of Northern Ireland are set to meet in perhaps the pick of the first-round matches.

England's Joe Cullen, who heads into the tournament as top seed, will play Ireland's William O'Connor.

The defending champion, England's Rob Cross, faces Dutchman Martijn Kleermaker in the opening round.

One player - Glen Durrant of England - had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19.