BURNHAM-ON-SEA'S Gary Anderson begins his quest for a third PDC Premier League Darts title against Michael Smith in Dublin this evening (Thursday).

The 47-year-old has previously won the event in 2011 and 2015 and comes into this year's tournament in good form having reached the semi-finals of last weekend's Unibet Masters, where he lost 11-5 to world number one Michael van Gerwen.

The Dutchman is the favourite to collect what would be his third straight Premier League crown and begins his own campaign against Rob Cross, who stunned onlookers to win the World Championship at the start of the year.

Anderson has been hampered by a back injury of late, but remains 11/2 third-favourite to win the Premier League - the Scot's match against Smith is the second on stage tonight, with an approximate start time of 8pm.

Raymond van Barneveld is the most experienced player competing in this year's Premier League following the retirement of Phil Taylor.

He was in Somerset earlier this week launching a sponsorship with Triton Tools and took on sports reporter Paul Martin on the oche - see video below.