The 2011 Players Championship Finals gets underway in Doncaster today and you can watch the top 32 players battle it out for the £60,000 title live online.

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The tournament has been billed as the World Championship warm-up event and promises to deliver high drama over a quick-fire format.

The opening night sees a number of big names in action, each looking to make a bright start by reaching round two. Each game looks too close to call on paper.

The pick of the opening matches sees Ronnie Baxter take on five time world champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Out of sorts Barney will be hoping to avoid another early exit in a televised event, after he was beaten at the World Grand Prix by Andy Smith and failed to make it out of the group stages at the Grand Slam.

Wes Newton and Richie Burnett have been floor forces on the circuit and are likely to play out a close run game on Thursday night.

Canadian ace John Part opens up his campaign against Wayne Jones; Part has enjoyed a superb year on the Pro Tour and will be out to continue that form in front of the TV cameras.

James Wade takes on Andy Smith in the penultimate game of the evening. Wade is likely to challenge for the title but faces a tough opener against The Pie Man.

The winner of that game will face either Paul Nicholson or Steve Brown in the next round; bad-boy Nicholson faces The Bomber from Bristol to round off the opening night's play.

Action gets underway from 7pm, with selected matches streamed live over the best of 11 legs from the Doncaster Dome.

Night One Schedule of Play

Thursday December 8 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
7.05pm Jamie Caven v Scott Rand
7.35pm Mark Walsh v Mark Hylton
8.05pm Peter Wright v Denis Ovens
8.35pm John Part v Wayne Jones
9.05pm Wes Newton v Richie Burnett
9.35pm Ronnie Baxter v Raymond van Barneveld
10.05pm James Wade v Andy Smith
10.35pm Paul Nicholson v Steve Brown