MARK WALSH'S return to the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit has earned him an automatic place in the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic.

Walsh's rise back up the world rankings has seen his career go almost full circle in the past three years - having dropped to the brink of the top 32 when he battled against dartitis.

His displays have seen him jump back up to 16th in the Order of Merit and mean he is among the 16 pre-qualified players for the Las Vegas Desert Classic.

Walsh's rise has been at the expense of 2003 Desert Classic champion Peter Manley, who has slipped to 17th and will have to enter the qualifiers on June 28 and 29 at the Mandalay Bay.

The top 16 and four qualifiers from the North American Order of Merit are joined by 12 qualifiers in the Desert Classic's televised stages from July 1-5.

Players wishing to enter the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic can do so online for £65 by clicking here (for PDPA members and UK players only). Entries close on Wednesday June 24 at 12pm BST.

All other international players should enter via Bulls-Eye News, with entry costing US$125 and available by clicking here or by calling 001 218 365 7655. Please note that entry via Bulls-Eye News closes on Tuesday June 23 at 8pm EST.

PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic
PDC Top 16 Qualifiers
Phil Taylor
James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld
John Part
Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis
Alan Tabern
Dennis Priestley
Ronnie Baxter
Colin Lloyd
Wayne Mardle
Colin Osborne
Kevin Painter
Andy Hamilton
Mark Walsh

North American Order of Merit Qualifiers
Darin Young
Scott Burnett
Chris White
Bill Davis

The top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit will be drawn against the North Americans and 12 Qualifiers for round one, with the players ranked 1-8 seeded.
The draw bracket will be:

Phil Taylor (1)	v
	v
Alan Tabern (8)	v
	v
John Part (4)	v
	v
Terry Jenkins (5)	v
	v
James Wade (2)	v
	v
Adrian Lewis (7)	v
	v
Raymond van Barneveld (3)	v
	v
Mervyn King (6)	v
	v