Legend Phil Taylor, 57, is playing his last ever professional darts match when he takes on Rob Cross at the Alexandra Palace in the World Championship final.

At stake is a possible 17th world title as Taylor has the perfect chance to end his career on a high.

The 2018 Premier League will be first ever played without Taylor, who has been an ever present since its inception.

One darts fan tweeted supremo Hearn and acussed the selection process for the tournament of being frantic.

But he yesterday replied: "Nothing frantic at all. Final committee meeting tomorrow. Announced after final."

That meeting has since been conducted and the 10-man line-up has been finalised - regardless of what happens tonight.

The tournament will be made up of the top four players in the world who are automatic picks. They will be joined by two players of Sky's choosing and four chosen by the PDC.

The Premier League will break new ground in 2018 with its first night in Germany.

The competition will also return to Rotterdam Ahoy for a third successive year following the sell-out success of the event in the Netherlands in 2016 and 2017.

Dublin’s hugely popular 3Arena will open the 2018 season on February 1 before visiting the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff and Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena ahead of the tournament’s inaugural visit to Germany.

March’s five league nights begin at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena before moving on to the First Direct Arena in Leeds, Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, The SSE Hydro in Glasgow and Belfast’s SSE Arena.

April begins with Night Ten at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, with the tournament then visiting The Sheffield Arena before the third visit to the Netherlands at Rotterdam Ahoy.

League nights at The Manchester Arena, Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena and The GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen conclude the regular season, before the top four players contest the play-offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.

Michael van Gerwen is the reigning champion having beaten Peter Wright in last year's final.