THE BetVictor World Matchplay schedule of play has been confirmed, with reigning champion Michael van Gerwen in action on the opening night of this year's event on Saturday July 16.
The prestigious £450,000 tournament, televised live on Sky Sports, sees 32 players competing from July 16-24 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Reigning champion van Gerwen will headline the opening session on Saturday evening as he takes on Jamie Caven, with January's Masters finalist Dave Chisnall up against Benito van de Pas.
World Grand Prix Champion Robert Thornton will face debutant Josh Payne, while the tournament begins with Dutchman, Vincent van der Voort taking on Australia's Kyle Anderson.
Sunday July 17 will see a double session take place, with the afternoon session featuring former Premier League stars Stephen Bunting and Kim Huybrechts up against the 2015 quarter-finalists Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price respectively.
Two-time World Matchplay finalist Terry Jenkins then faces Justin Pipe, before Ian White - last Sunday's Players Championship winner - meets Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney, another Blackpool debutant.
Sunday's evening session begins with 2007 champion James Wade taking on Mervyn King, before Adrian Lewis faces Mark Webster.
Reigning World Champion Gary Anderson then meets Blackpool debutant Alan Norris before colourful Scot Peter Wright - a World Matchplay semi-finalist last year - plays Joe Cullen, one of the form players on the PDC circuit this year.
The first round concludes on Monday evening, with the four games headlined by 15-time World Matchplay champion Phil Taylor's meeting with Robbie Green.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld begins his campaign against Brendan Dolan, while Premier League ace Michael Smith plays Simon Whitlock and Jelle Klaasen takes on Steve Beaton.
The second round sees the players in the top half of the draw in action on Tuesday, with the bottom half competing in their last 16 ties on Wednesday, with the quarter-finals split across Thursday and Friday before the tournament's culmination on the second weekend of action.
For tickets, call 0844 856 1111 , visit the Winter Gardens' Church Street Box Office or buy online at THIS LINK .
BetVictor World Matchplay
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 16 (7pm-11pm)
First Round x4
Vincent van der Voort v Kyle Anderson
Robert Thornton v Josh Payne
Michael van Gerwen v Jamie Caven
Dave Chisnall v Benito van de Pas
Sunday July 17
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
First Round x4
Stephen Bunting v Mensur Suljovic
Kim Huybrechts v Gerwyn Price
Terry Jenkins v Justin Pipe
Ian White v Daryl Gurney
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
First Round x4
James Wade v Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster
Gary Anderson v Alan Norris
Peter Wright v Joe Cullen
Monday July 18 (7pm-11pm)
First Round x4
Jelle Klaasen v Steve Beaton
Raymond van Barneveld v Brendan Dolan
Phil Taylor v Robbie Green
Michael Smith v Simon Whitlock
Tuesday July 19 (7pm-12am)
Second Round x4
Thornton/Payne v Chisnall/van de Pas
Wright/Cullen v White/Gurney
van Gerwen/Caven v van der Voort/K Anderson
Lewis/Webster v Huybrechts/Price
Wednesday July 20 (7pm-12am)
Second Round x4
Wade/King v van Barneveld/Dolan
Smith/Whitlock v Klaasen/Beaton
Taylor/Green v Bunting/Suljovic
G Anderson/Norris v Jenkins/Pipe
Thursday July 21 (7pm-11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Wright/Cullen/White/Gurney v Lewis/Webster/Huybrechts/Price
van Gerwen/Caven/van der Voort/K Anderson v Thornton/Payne/Chisnall/van de Pas
Friday July 22 (7pm-11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Wade/King/van Barneveld/Dolan v Taylor/Green/Bunting/Suljovic
G Anderson/Norris/Jenkins/Pipe v Smith/Whitlock/Klaasen/Beaton
Saturday July 23 (7pm-10pm)
Semi-Finals
Sunday July 24 (7pm-9pm)
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Second Round - Best of 21 legs**
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs
Final - Best of 35 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death. For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12 then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg.
**Second Round format amended on Monday July 11.