COLIN LLOYD will begin the defence of his Stan James World Matchplay title against Steve Maish on Monday 24 July.
The world number one from Essex picked up the title with an 18-12 win over John Part in last year's final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
He will open his campaign this year against Southend-based Maish in the best of 19-leg first round on the second night of the 2006 tournament, which begins on Sunday 23 July.
Seven-time champion Phil Taylor will follow Lloyd onto the Blackpool stage when he meets Bob Anderson in the first round.
Canadian star Part, twice the beaten finalist, will come up against Wes Newton in the first round in a repeat of the Las Vegas Desert Classic semi-final.
Stan James World Matchplay
First Round Draw & Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Bob Anderson
John Part (16) v Wes Newton
Dennis Priestley (8) v Alan Tabern
Mark Dudbridge (9) v Alex Roy
Wayne Mardle (5) v Steve Hine
Terry Jenkins (12) v Lionel Sams
Peter Manley (4) v Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis (13) v Matt Clark
Colin Lloyd (2) v Steve Maish
Chris Mason (15) v Steve Beaton
Kevin Painter (7) v Barrie Bates
Denis Ovens (10) v James Wade
Andy Jenkins (6) v Alan Warriner-Little
Roland Scholten (11) v Andy Smith
Ronnie Baxter (3) v Dennis Smith
Mark Walsh (14) v Dave Askew
Order of Play
Sunday 23 July
First Round
7.30pm Start
Mark Dudbridge v Alex Roy
John Part v Wes Newton
Dennis Priestley v Alan Tabern
Monday 24 July
1.00pm Start
Terry Jenkins v Lionel Sams
Adrian Lewis v Matt Clark
Peter Manley v Andy Hamilton
Chris Mason v Steve Beaton
7.00pm Start
Kevin Painter v Barrie Bates
Colin Lloyd v Steve Maish
Phil Taylor v Bob Anderson
Wayne Mardle v Steve Hine
Tuesday 25 July
1.00pm Start
Denis Ovens v James Wade
Andy Jenkins v Alan Warriner-Little
Roland Scholten v Andy Smith
Mark Walsh v Dave Askew
7.00pm Start
Ronnie Baxter v Dennis Smith
Second Round
Manley/Hamilton v Lewis/Clark
Taylor/Anderson v Part/Newton
Wednesday 26 July
1.00pm Start
Priestley/Tabern v Dudbridge/Roy
Mardle/Hine v T Jenkins/Sams
Painter/Bates v Ovens/Wade
7.00pm Start
A Jenkins/Warriner-Little v Scholten/A Smith
Lloyd/Maish v Mason/Beaton
Baxter/D Smith v Walsh/Askew
Thursday 27 July
Quarter-Finals
1.00pm Start
A Jenkins/Warriner-Little/Scholten/A Smith v Baxter/D Smith/Walsh/Askew
Lloyd/Maish/Mason/Beaton v Painter/Bates/Ovens/Wade
7.00pm Start
Mardle/Hine/T Jenkins/Sams v Manley/Hamilton/Lewis/Clark
Taylor/Anderson/Part/Newton v Priestley/Tabern/Dudbridge/Roy
Friday 28 July
Semi-Finals
7.00pm Start
Saturday 29 July
Final
7.00pm Start
Format
First Round - Best of 19 Legs
Second Round - Best of 25 Legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 Legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 Legs
Final - Best of 35 Legs