 Klaasen stunned Raymond van Barneveld to clinch the title |
The 2007 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships will be breaking new ground when it begins on 6 January. Dutch 17-year-old Michael van Gerwen, who won the World Masters in October, will become the youngest-ever player in the British Darts Organisation event.
His compatriot, Carla Molema, will be the championships' youngest-ever female player at the age of 18.
The event, in its 30th year of being televised by the BBC, will also feature a record prize fund of �290,000.
The set and players' walk-on at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, have also been revamped to add to the fresh look.
The reigning Lakeside men's champion is another Dutchman, Jelle Klaasen, who was just 21 when he won the title last January.
After an indifferent year since his triumph, Klaasen is unseeded again and faces a tough first-round clash with countryman Co Stompe.
 | These young players represent the exciting future of our sport |
Van Gerwen makes his Lakeside debut as the third seed and takes on England's experienced Gary Robson in his opener.
Top seed Martin Adams, beaten by Van Gerwen in the World Masters final, begins his campaign against England team-mate Tony O'Shea.
In the women's event, England's reigning champion Trina Gulliver is chasing a record seventh title. Rising star Molema is her first-round opponent.
Newly-crowned Women's World Masters champion and Dutch second seed Francis Hoenselaar will play Carol Forwood, who becomes the first Aussie woman to play at the Lakeside.
Players from 30 countries started out on the road to 2007 championships, and eight nations are represented in the first round of both competitions.
It features 19 from England, 10 from the Netherlands, three Scots, two Welsh, two Swedes, two Australians, one Russian and a Dane.
In the women's championship there are debuts for Anastasia Dobromyslova (Russia), Carla Molema (Netherlands), Apylee Jones (England) and Forwood (Australia).
BDO managing director Olly Croft said he is delighted that the 2007 Lakeside field is probably the youngest ever.
"These young players represent the exciting future of our sport", he said.
"Michael van Gerwen and Carla Molema are among the latest outstanding prospects. They are still teenagers, and Jelle Klaasen is a great champion at only 21.
"They are joined by other exciting young talents like 23 year-old Mark Webster, one of the most outstanding youngsters to come out of Wales for many years."
Men's first round:
Co Stompe (Ned) 16 v Jelle Klaasen (Ned)
Vincent van der Voort (Ned) 9 v Davy Richardson (Eng)
Martin Adams (Eng) 1 v Tony O'Shea (Eng)
Ted Hankey (Eng) 8 v Mario Robbe (Ned)
Mike Veitch (Sco) 12 v Goran Klemme (Swe)
Mervyn King (Eng) 5 v Paul Gibbs (Eng)
Shaun Greatbach (Eng) 13 v Paul Hogan (Eng)
Tony Eccles (Eng) 4 v Mark Webster (Wal)
Paul Hanvidge (Sco) 15 v Martin Phillips (Wal)
Gary Anderson (Sco) 2 v Albertino Essers (Ned)
Martin Atkins (Eng) 10 v Garry Fenn (Eng)
Darryl Fitton (Eng) 7 v Phil Nixon (Eng)
Niels De Ruiter (Ned) 11 v Brian Woods (Eng)
Simon Whitlock (Aus) 6 v Andy Fordham (Eng)
John Walton (Eng) 14 v Brian Sorensen (Den)
Michael van Gerwen (Ned) 3 v Gary Robson (Eng)
Women's first round:
Anastasia Dobromyslova (Rus) 4 v Carina Ekberg (Swe)
Trina Gulliver (Eng) 1 v Carla Molema (Ned)
Karin Krappen (Ned) 3 v Apylee Jones (Eng)
Francis Hoenselaar (Ned) 2 v Carol Forwood (Aus)
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