TAYLOR MEETS TOP AUSTRALIAN KYLE ANDERSON IN SYDNEY DARTS MASTERS OPENER
PHIL TAYLOR will take on top Australian Kyle Anderson when the Sydney Darts Masters, in association with TAB, kicks off at Luna Park on Thursday night.
World Champion Taylor, the sport's greatest ever player, will begin his challenge in the sold-out three-day event as he faces the challenge of Australia's top domestic talent, live on FOX SPORTS.
Anderson, a 25-year-old based in Mount Morgan, near Rockhampton, competed in last year's World Championship in London and has dominated the DPA's Australian Grand Prix circuit this year, finishing as a runaway winner of the Order of Merit with seven event victories.
He admits that it will be a dream taking on Taylor at Luna Park on Thursday - but is determined to make an impact on stage in the first round.
"To play Phil is a dream come true," said Anderson. "He's the best player ever to play the game, the Roger Federer of darts, and everyone wants to be Phil and to beat Phil.
"I had a gut feeling that I'd draw Phil but you can't take Phil lightly. Hopefully I can get a couple of legs won early and ride the momentum all the way home.
"That might sound cocky but you've got to be confident against Phil or he'll take you down.
"I played my brother Beau a couple of months ago and actually hit a nine-darter to finish the game, so if I can show that much ruthlessness towards my brother, who knows what I can show against someone who isn't part of my family!
"Against Phil, you can talk what you want but he's got that certain aspect on the board that no-one can touch - when Phil's on form, he's on, but hopefully I can get on top of him and ride it out, and make a real statement for Australian darts."
Taylor comes into the Sydney Darts Masters on the back of last month's imperious triumph in the World Matchplay, and he said: "I'm really looking forward to it.
"Although I've never played Kyle before I know he's had a great year on the Australian circuit and he's the top player over here, so I won't be taking him lightly.
"Some of the qualifiers will probably get a bit nervous in front of the TV cameras but you'll have some who excel and perform well.
"If one of these young players, like Kyle Anderson, come through and do well in the Sydney Darts Masters then it will be a big boost - but I'll be doing everything in my power to take the title!"
Leading Australian Simon Whitlock, the world number four, will play Jamie Mathers, who was the tournament's final qualifier on Wednesday afternoon when he won a Play-Off against Dave Muller after the pair reached the DPA Oceanic Masters semi-finals.
"I've been playing darts for 20-odd years but this is one of the most exciting weeks of my career," admits Whitlock.
"Darts is getting more and more popular all the time in Australia through the TV coverage that they are getting of our events in Europe, and it's been great to see how much interest there's been since we've arrived.
"The event sold out in a few weeks and it's a big step forward for the sport over here. Australians love sport anyway but they'll have never experienced anything like this.
"I'm so proud to be a part of it and to have the crowd behind me this week will be great. I think that will give me a little bit extra in my game and hopefully I can do the business because it would be fantastic to win this title."
Paul Nicholson, the Australian World Cup representative who is seeded eighth, has drawn experienced Kiwi Warren Parry, a three-time World Championship qualifier who won a qualifying event in New Zealand earlier this year to earn a spot in Sydney.
"It's a great draw and I'm really looking forward to playing Warren," said Nicholson, whose game will kick off the event on Thursday night.
"I've known Warren for a long time and we've had many great matches before, and it will be fantastic to take him on in such a high profile event."
Nicholson added: "There's a nice mix of Aussies and Kiwis in there now and it's a great Oceanic event. We can't wait to get started because everyone's looking forward to getting their teeth into this event.
"Over the last couple of weeks I've seen the interest in this event in Australia and it's mind-blowing just how many people are looking forward to this event on FOX."
World number two Michael van Gerwen, the reigning Premier League Darts and World Grand Prix champion, has drawn Gordon Mathers, a 31-year-old from Brisbane who finished second to Anderson in the DPA standings this year and was joined in the Luna Park event by younger brother Jamie.
"Sydney is a great place and I'm really looking forward to playing in this tournament," said van Gerwen, who won the previous World Series of Darts event in Dubai in May.
"I won the World Series event in Dubai and I'll be trying to win this one as well. I've not played many of these qualifiers before but I'm just seeing Gordon as my opponent.
"It's a short format in the first round, so you need prepare yourself well and make sure you don't make any mistakes."
European Champion Adrian Lewis, the world number three, has drawn qualifier Monty Tuhua - a butcher from Auckland - while Raymond van Barneveld plays Geelong-based DPA number three Clinton Bridge Wes Newton plays David Platt, who emigrated to Australia from England and won through the DPA Qualifiers on Tuesday.
Andy Hamilton, June's UK Open finalist, will face the challenge of Beau Anderson, the older brother of Kyle who also won through the knockout qualifiers held in Warilla on Sunday and also claimed glory in Wednesday's prestigious Oceanic Masters event, defeating Bridge 6-4 in the final.
The 16-player event will take place from Thursday August 29-Sunday August 31 in the Big Top at Luna Park, and televised live on FOX SPORTS.
Worldwide coverage will be televised through Sky New Zealand, Fox Asia, OSN across the Middle East, on the Eurosport Network in the UK, Ireland, across mainland Europe and in Scandinavia, and online through www.LIVEPDC.TV.
Taylor and van Gerwen are the 2.75 joint favourites with event sponsors TAB, with Adrian Lewis 7.00 and van Barneveld and Whitlock 11.00.
Hamilton and Newton are 26.00, with Nicholson the outsider of the PDC stars at 41.00. TAB also have odds of 8.00 for an Australian to win the tournament, with 1.07 for a non-domestic champion, while they are offering odds of 9.00 for a nine-darter to be hit during the event.
For the latest tournament odds, visit www.tab.com.au.
Click here for results updates from the DPA Oceanic Masters
Click the links below for Sydney Darts Masters video preview interviews on the OfficialPDC YouTube page with:
Wes Newton
Paul Nicholson
Michael van Gerwen
Sydney Darts Masters Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1, England) v Kyle Anderson (Australia)
Paul Nicholson (8, Australia) v Warren Parry (New Zealand)
Simon Whitlock (4, Australia) v Jamie Mathers (Australia)
Andy Hamilton (5, England) v Beau Anderson (Australia)
Michael van Gerwen (2, Netherlands) v Gordon Mathers (Australia)
Raymond van Barneveld (7, Netherlands) v Clinton Bridge (Australia)
Adrian Lewis (3, England) v Monty Tuhua (New Zealand)
Wes Newton (6, England) v David Platt (Australia)
The Qualifiers are:
Kyle Anderson (Australia) - 2013 DPA Australian Grand Prix Order of Merit winner
Gordon Mathers (Australia) - 2013 DPA Australian Grand Prix Order of Merit runner-up
Clinton Bridge (Australia) - 2013 DPA Australian Grand Prix Order of Merit third place
Warren Parry (New Zealand) - DartPlayers New Zealand Qualifier
Beau Anderson (Australia) - Winner of DPA Qualifier 1
Monty Tuhua (New Zealand) - Winner of DPA Qualifier 2
David Platt (Australia) - Winner of DPA Qualifier 3
Jamie Mathers (Australia) - Leading non-qualified player from DPA Oceanic Masters, won a Play-Off against Dave Muller 6-4
Event Format
Thursday August 29 (8pm)
8x First Round Games
Order of Play:
Paul Nicholson v Warren Parry
Raymond van Barneveld v Clinton Bridge
Wes Newton v David Platt
Andy Hamilton v Beau Anderson
Simon Whitlock v Jamie Mathers
Adrian Lewis v Monty Tuhua
Michael van Gerwen v Gordon Mathers
Phil Taylor v Kyle Anderson
Best of 11 legs
Friday August 30 (8pm)
Quarter-Finals
Best of 15 legs
Saturday August 31 (8pm)
Semi-Finals & Final
Best of 19 legs