JAMES WADE will open the defence of his World Grand Prix title on Monday October 3 in Dublin against Steve Brown, while Phil Taylor will open his bid for a tenth win in the double-start event against Peter Wright.
Wade picked up a second World Grand Prix victory last October, defeating Adrian Lewis in the final at the New Citywest Convention Centre.
The left-hander has drawn Bristol's Steve Brown in the cut-throat best-of-three set first round in the World Grand Prix, which begins on Monday October 3.
World Champion Lewis will also be in action on the opening night when he faces Canada's John Part, the two-time World Grand Prix finalist and three-time World Champion who hit a nine-darter in the World Matchplay in July.
Raymond van Barneveld faces Mervyn King in another heavyweight contest on the opening night, while number seven seed Wes Newton - the UK Open runner-up in June - meets 2004 champion Colin Lloyd.
Limerick's William O'Connor will compete in front of his home fans when he meets Andy Smith, while Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan drew Wayne Jones and debutants Justin Pipe and John Henderson clash.
Nine-time World Grand Prix winner Phil Taylor will begin his challenge on Tuesday October 4 against Lowestoft's colourful Peter Wright, one of the 16 qualifiers through the Players Championship Order of Merit.
Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson has drawn Richie Burnett, the Welshman who won through to the World Grand Prix in dramatic fashion by winning Sunday's Players Championship in Holland.
Number five seed Simon Whitlock drew two-time runner-up Terry Jenkins, Mark Webster plays Andy Hamilton and Ronnie Baxter meets Paul Nicholson - with the winner going on to face either Taylor or Wright in round two.
Dave Chisnall will make his World Grand Prix debut with a St Helens derby against local rival Alan Tabern, UK Open semi-finalist Denis Ovens drew Jamie Caven and Mark Walsh meets Mark Hylton.
Tickets for the World Grand Prix, which is held from October 3-9 at the New Citywest Convention Centre, are still by calling the Citywest Hotel Box Office on 00353 (0)1 401 0505.
Tickets are still available for the World Grand Prix by calling the Citywest Hotel Box Office on 00353 (0)1 401 0505.
2011 World Grand Prix
First Round Draw Bracket
Top Half of the Draw
Phil Taylor (1) v Peter Wright
Ronnie Baxter v Paul Nicholson
Mark Webster (8) v Andy Hamilton
Dave Chisnall v Alan Tabern
Simon Whitlock (5) v Terry Jenkins
Mark Hylton v Mark Walsh
Gary Anderson (4) v Richie Burnett
Jamie Caven v Denis Ovens
Bottom Half of the Draw
Adrian Lewis (2) v John Part
Brendan Dolan v Wayne Jones
Wes Newton (7) v Colin Lloyd
Justin Pipe v John Henderson
Raymond van Barneveld (6) v Mervyn King
William O'Connor v Andy Smith
James Wade (3) v Steve Brown
Vincent van der Voort v Kevin Painter
Schedule of Play
Monday October 3 (7pm)
First Round
Brendan Dolan v Wayne Jones
Justin Pipe v John Henderson
Vincent van der Voort v Kevin Painter
Wes Newton v Colin Lloyd
Adrian Lewis v John Part
James Wade v Steve Brown
Raymond van Barneveld v Mervyn King
William O'Connor v Andy Smith
Tuesday October 4 (7pm)
First Round
Jamie Caven v Denis Ovens
Mark Hylton v Mark Walsh
Dave Chisnall v Alan Tabern
Mark Webster v Andy Hamilton
Gary Anderson v Richie Burnett
Phil Taylor v Peter Wright
Simon Whitlock v Terry Jenkins
Ronnie Baxter v Paul Nicholson
Wednesday October 5 (7pm start)
Second Round
Newton/Lloyd v Pipe/Henderson
Wade/Brown v van der Voort/Painter
van Barneveld/King v O'Connor/Smith
Lewis/Part v Dolan/Jones
Thursday October 6 (7pm)
Second Round
Webster/Hamilton v Chisnall/Tabern
Whitlock/Jenkins v Hylton/Walsh
Taylor/Wright v Baxter/Nicholson
Anderson/Burnett v Caven/Ovens
Friday October 7 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Lewis/Part/Dolan/Jones v Newton/Lloyd/Pipe/Henderson
van Barneveld/King/O'Connor/Smith v Wade/Brown/van der Voort/Painter
Taylor/Wright/Baxter/Nicholson v Webster/Hamilton/Chisnall/Tabern
Whitlock/Jenkins/Hylton/Walsh v Anderson/Burnett/Caven/Ovens
Saturday October 8 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Sunday October 9
6pm - Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay Final
Connie Finnan v Shane O'Connor
Best of 11 legs
7pm - World Grand Prix Final
Qualified Players
PDC Order of Merit Top 16 (Top Eight Seeded)
1 Phil Taylor
2 Adrian Lewis
3 James Wade
4 Gary Anderson
5 Simon Whitlock
6 Raymond van Barneveld
7 Wes Newton
8 Mark Webster
9 Paul Nicholson
10 Terry Jenkins
11 Andy Hamilton
12 Mervyn King
13 Wayne Jones
14 Mark Walsh
15 Colin Lloyd
16 Ronnie Baxter
Players Championship Order of Merit Qualifiers
17 John Part
18 Vincent van der Voort
19 Justin Pipe
20 Jamie Caven
21 Andy Smith
22 Peter Wright
23 Dave Chisnall
24 Kevin Painter
25 Denis Ovens
26 Richie Burnett
27 Alan Tabern
28 Steve Brown
29 Mark Hylton
30 John Henderson
Top Two Players from Ireland/Northern Ireland in Players Championship Order of Merit
31 Brendan Dolan
32 William O'Connor