Mark Dudbridge is aiming to put his World Matchplay disappointment behind him when he makes his European Championship bow in Germany tomorrow.

The Bristolian's performances on the PDC ProTour so far this year have seen him qualify for the event in Dinslaken for the first time in its three-year history.

He will join a top-class field, including defending champion Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade and Simon Whitlock, competing for the £50,000 first prize.

The tournament starts tonight, with players such as Taylor, Whitlock, Mervyn King and Gary Anderson in action, before Dudbridge takes on world No 13 Robert Thornton tomorrow evening.

And the 37-year-old is looking for a positive response to his 12-10 first-round defeat to Mark Walsh in last week's World Matchplay.

"I didn't play anywhere near my A-game in Blackpool – but it only took a couple of days after that to pull myself together," said Dubdridge. "Seeing Stevie Brown doing really well, which is great for Bristol darts, gave me a real lift and a buzz – and in the last week I haven't been able to leave the practice board alone.

"Something has really clicked inside me in the last week or so and made me want to push on and do better – rather than sitting back and being happy with what I have achieved.

"I could sit back at the end of my career and think, 'Yes, I did win a World Masters title and get to a World Championship final and a World Matchplay final' – but I don't want be content with that.

"Instead, I have got a new vigour about me from somewhere. I am not sure how it happened, but I am really up for the rest of the year now."

Dudbridge's opponent in tomorrow's best-of-11-legs clash hardly had the best preparation for Germany in losing 10-0 to fellow Scot Anderson in Blackpool.

But the Bristolian said: "After last week, I imagine we will both go into the match with a little bit of self-doubt.

"He is a tough player and I am sure he has been doing the same as I have, working hard to put things right.

"I know I have to work on putting these players away. Years ago I was doing that – and I think it's only round the corner now. It's all about doing on the stage what I have been doing in practice."

The entire European Championship, which runs until Sunday evening, is being broadcast by Bravo.