DARTS star Terry Jenkins will open his Ladbrokes World Championship campaign this weekend.

Jenkins faces Northern Ireland’s Colin McGarry or Denmark’s Per Laursen in a first-round tie at London's Alexandra Palace on Saturday afternoon.

If Jenkins is successful, he will meet Peter Wright or Joe Cullen in a second-round clash on Friday, December 20.

The Ledbury thrower will be hoping to make it through to the post-Christmas third round on Friday, December 27.

Jenkins is a former semi-finalist but has slipped to 17th in the PDC order of merit.

"Darts used to be my hobby but it turned into my job and I can't keep doing it all the time," he said.

"I love the televised events but I feel too old for the others. If I was 30 years old, things would be different.

"I just take each month as it comes. I used to have a wall planner but now I ask my wife every couple of weeks."

Reigning champion Phil Taylor will be in action on the opening night and is the hot favourite to win the crown.

Jenkins has been quoted by Ladbrokes as a 200-1 outsider.

"The bookies always get things wrong - there are so many good players on the circuit," said Jenkins.

"I am still in the top 32 and I am riding my luck and earning the money when I can.

"When I drop out of the top-32 I will just do exhibitions.

"I struggled to get into the Players Championship because I missed several events."

The PDC have seen record interest in the tournament since tickets went on sale in June.

More than 40,000 tickets have been sold ahead of the event and only a limited number of sessions have tickets available on general sale.

Ladbrokes World Darts Championship: Saturday December 14, afternoon session, first round: TERRY JENKINS v McGarry/Laursen.

Friday December 20, second round: Wright/Cullen v JENKINS/McGarry/Laursen.

Friday, December 27, third round: Taylor Szabo/Moss/M Smith/Hashimoto/Lam v Wright/Cullen/JENKINS/McGarry/Laursen.