TAYLOR MEETS WORLD CUP ACE LIU IN SHANGHAI DARTS MASTERS OPENER
PHIL TAYLOR will face a rematch against Yuanjun Liu when the inaugural Shanghai Darts Masters begins on Saturday as Gary Anderson begins his bid to claim a third successive PDC World Series of Darts win against Yunfei Jiang.
Legendary star Taylor took on Liu in the Betway World Cup of Darts earlier this month, with the Chinese ace being defeated 4-0 in a second round Singles match by the 16-time World Champion in Frankfurt.
Liu was one of four players to win through Friday's Chinese Qualifier in Shanghai, and Taylor is preparing himself for a tough test to kick off the tournament at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South on Saturday.
"That was his first time on TV so might have been a bit nervous there, but this time he might not be so nervous," said the 55-year-old. "We'll have to wait and see - I'm sure he'll be a different player to who he was in Germany."
Taylor - who won the China Telecom Global Cup in 2004 in the PDC's previous visit to the country - added: "I've enjoyed it. Every country has its own personality and I've loved every minute out here, but now I've got to prepare for the event."
World Champion Gary Anderson, meanwhile, is bidding to follow up May's Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters victory and last weekend's triumph at the Auckland Darts Masters, in association with TAB and Burger King, when he faces TV debutant Jiang.
"I've been delighted with how things have gone for me in Dubai and Auckland and it would be great to make it a hat-trick this weekend," said Anderson.
"The World Series has been great and my form's been good, so I'm looking forward to this weekend. I don't know anything about my opponent yet but I'll be ready for him because that's often the most dangerous game."
World number one Michael van Gerwen has drawn Singapore's veteran star Paul Lim in a high-profile first round game, while Hong Kong's Scott Mackenzie takes on Dave Chisnall.
The other Hong Kong representative in the tournament, the distinctive Ting Chi Royden Lam, has drawn Peter Wright - who is well aware of the ability of the first Asian player to win a PDC Tour Card.
"He's a cool looking dude but he's a great player," said Wright. "He's played on the circuit and he's very good, so it's a very tough match."
2015 Auckland Darts Masters winner Adrian Lewis will face Chinese qualifier Jianhua Shen, while Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade drew the winners Stages Three and Four respectively on the PDC-affiliated Chinese tour earlier in 2016, Lihao Wen and Yanlai Shi.
The draw for the inaugural Shanghai Darts Masters was made on Friday by Wang Hongzhou, the Vice District Mayor for the Zuhui District in Shanghai, after the eight PDC stars had enjoyed promotional appearances at two local schools and at the Chinese Qualifier ahead of the tournament.
The Shanghai Darts Masters will be held on June 25-26 at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South, with the first round on Saturday and the quarter-finals, semi-final and final on Sunday.
The tournament will be televised through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners and for LIVEPDC.TV International Pass Subscribers, and screened through delayed coverage on ITV4 in the UK.
2016 Shanghai Darts Masters
Tournament Draw Bracket
Gary Anderson (1) v Yunfei Jiang
James Wade (5) v Yanlai Shi
Phil Taylor (4) v Yuanjun Liu
Peter Wright (8) v Ting Chi Royden Lam
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Paul Lim
Raymond van Barneveld (7) v Lihao Wen
Adrian Lewis (3) v Jianhua Shen
Dave Chisnall (6) v Scott Mackenzie
Saturday June 25 (5pm)
First Round Order of Play
Raymond van Barneveld v Lihao Wen
Peter Wright v Ting Chi Royden Lam
James Wade v Yanlai Shi
Dave Chisnall v Scott Mackenzie
Phil Taylor v Yuanjun Liu
Adrian Lewis v Jianhua Shen
Michael van Gerwen v Paul Lim
Gary Anderson v Yunfei Jiang
Best of 11 legs
Sunday June 26 (5pm)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Best of 15 legs