MICHAEL VAN GERWEN will begin his bid to win a third successive BetVictor World Matchplay title against Stephen Bunting, while Phil Taylor has drawn Gerwyn Price to open his final challenge at the Winter Gardens this month.
The prestigious tournament, televised live on Sky Sports, will see a 32-player field competing from July 22-30 at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.
World Champion and top seed Van Gerwen has taken victory in Blackpool for the past two years, and will open his title defence against St Helens-based former Lakeside Champion Bunting.
Legendary 15-time World Matchplay champion Taylor, who is making his final Winter Gardens appearance ahead of his impending retirement, has drawn Welsh star Price for their first round meeting.
James Wade, the number six seed and the only other former World Matchplay winner in the field following his 2007 success, has drawn Norfolk's Darren Webster, who secured his qualification by winning last Saturday's Players Championship.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, the number nine seed and 2010 finalist, drew Sunday's Players Championship winner, Joe Cullen.
Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson and 2017 UK Open champion Peter Wright drew debutants Christian Kist and James Wilson respectively, while 2013 World Matchplay runner-up Adrian Lewis meets veteran star Steve Beaton.
Australian stars Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson will meet on the big stage for the first time in a televised ranking event, with the winner set to take on either Van Gerwen or Bunting.
Number five seed Dave Chisnall drew former semi-finalist Mervyn King, while Kim Huybrechts meets Alan Norris and Ian White takes on shooting star Rob Cross in a tough second quarter to the draw alongside Lewis and Beaton.
Number seven seed Mensur Suljovic, last year's European Championship finalist, will meet Scottish ace John Henderson, with Dutchmen Jelle Klaasen and Benito van de Pas coming up against Justin Pipe and Daryl Gurney respectively.
Former World Youth Champion Michael Smith and Robert Thornton are seeded in the bottom quarter of the draw, and will meet debutants Steve West and Cristo Reyes in their first round ties.
The schedule of play for the BetVictor World Matchplay will be confirmed in due course at www.pdc.tv.
Tickets for the BetVictor World Matchplay are still available from the Winter Gardens Box Office:
Telephone 0844 856 1111
Online via the Winter Gardens website
Online via www.ticketmaster.co.uk
The draw was broadcast through Facebook Live on the OfficialPDC Facebook page and can be watched back online.
2017 BetVictor World Matchplay
Draw Bracket
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Stephen Bunting
Simon Whitlock (16) v Kyle Anderson
Phil Taylor (8) v Gerwyn Price
Raymond van Barneveld (9) v Joe Cullen
Dave Chisnall (5) v Mervyn King
Kim Huybrechts (12) v Alan Norris
Adrian Lewis (4) v Steve Beaton
Ian White (13) v Rob Cross
Gary Anderson (2) v Christian Kist
Benito van de Pas (15) v Daryl Gurney
Mensur Suljovic (7) v John Henderson
Jelle Klaasen (10) v Justin Pipe
James Wade (6) v Darren Webster
Michael Smith (11) v Steve West
Peter Wright (3) v James Wilson
Robert Thornton (14) v Cristo Reyes
The Draw - As It Came Out
3 Peter Wright v 27 James Wilson
11 Michael Smith v 28 Steve West
14 Robert Thornton v 23 Cristo Reyes
7 Mensur Suljovic v 30 John Henderson
1 Michael van Gerwen v 24 Stephen Bunting
13 Ian White v 20 Rob Cross
12 Kim Huybrechts v 18 Alan Norris
6 James Wade v 25 Darren Webster
8 Phil Taylor v 22 Gerwyn Price
5 Dave Chisnall v 21 Mervyn King
2 Gary Anderson v 31 Christian Kist
16 Simon Whitlock v 29 Kyle Anderson
10 Jelle Klaasen v 32 Justin Pipe
9 Raymond van Barneveld v 19 Joe Cullen
4 Adrian Lewis v 26 Steve Beaton
15 Benito van de Pas v 17 Daryl Gurney
BetVictor Odds
Outright Winner
4/5 Michael van Gerwen
9/2 Gary Anderson
11/2 Peter Wright
20/1 Phil Taylor
28/1 Dave Chisnall, Adrian Lewis
33/1 Raymond van Barneveld
50/1 Bar
First Round Match Odds
Michael van Gerwen (1/14) v Stephen Bunting (7/1)
Simon Whitlock (4/7) v Kyle Anderson (11/8)
Phil Taylor (2/7) v Gerwyn Price (11/4)
Raymond van Barneveld (3/10) v Joe Cullen (5/2)
Dave Chisnall (1/4) v Mervyn King (3/1)
Kim Huybrechts (8/13) v Alan Norris (5/4)
Adrian Lewis (1/3) v Steve Beaton (9/4)
Ian White (11/10) v Rob Cross (9/11)
Gary Anderson (1/14) v Christan Kist (7/1)
Benito Van des Pas (5/4) v Daryl Gurney (8/13)
Mensur Suljovic (1/4) v John Henderson (3/1)
Jelle Klaasen (1/3) v Justin Pipe (9/4)
James Wade (3/10) v Darren Webster (5/2)
Michael Smith (2/7) v Steve West (11/4)
Peter Wright (1/8) v James Wilson (5/1)
Robert Thornton (Evens) v Cristo Reyes (4/5)
For the latest odds, visit the BetVictor website. Odds subject to fluctuation and correct at time of writing.