JAMES WADE will open the defence of his Blue Square UK Open title against Peter Manley on Friday night, while Phil Taylor takes on Lee Williams in 'The FA Cup of Darts'.
Wade, who followed up last year's Reebok Stadium triumph with victory in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts recently, faces three-time World Championship runner-up Manley in one of the pick of the third round games in Bolton.
World number one Taylor has drawn Manchester-based rookie Williams as he begins his challenge for a third UK Open win, while Raymond van Barneveld drew Middlesbrough's Ken Dobson.
Three-time World Champion John Part's reward for a second round win over Mick McGowan in Thursday's opening night was a clash with former World Matchplay champion Colin Lloyd.
Adrian Lewis faces Robert Thornton in another high-profile game, while in-form Mark Walsh drew Wayne Mardle.
Mardle had to come from 3-0 down to win against qualifier Les Fitton on his return from mumps before sealing a third round spot.
"I was disappointed with some of my performance but I got away with a win, and that's all that mattered," said Mardle. "I'm feeling better and I'm refreshed, and I feel good about my game."
Australian number one Paul Nicholson celebrated a new look with a 6-4 win over Scottish star Gary Anderson in the biggest game of the opening night.
Nicholson sported a waistcoat and tie for the contest, and came from behind before sealing victory with a bullseye finish for a 132 checkout against Anderson.
"It's a massive confidence boost for me," said Nicholson. "This is possibly the biggest win of my career and I can go on from this."
Six of the 31 amateur Holsten Qualifiers won through to the third round, including Salford's Ken Mather and Telford's Andy Roberts - who claimed the scalp of two former World Champions, Anastasia Dobromyslova and Steve Beaton.
Roberts now takes on Chorley newcomer Louis Blundell, while Swindon's Johnny Haines drew Mark Dudbridge, Middlesbrough's Glen Durrant meets world number six Terry Jenkins and Mather takes on Nicholson.
However, 2008 runner-up Gary Mawson failed in his bid to match that achievement when he lost in round two to Haines.
Roland Scholten, the 2004 champion who has been hampered for the past year by a shoulder problem, dropped just two legs in wins over Derek Williams and Ian Critchett.
Blue Square UK Open - Thursday Schedule of Play
First Round
Board One
Alex Roy 6-1 Richie Burnett
James Barton 3-6 Toon Greebe
Gary Welding 6-2 John Kuczynski
Gary Mawson 6-1 Darren Weaver
Board Two
Michael Smith 5-6 Dave Ladley
Darren Latham 5-6 Andy Boulton
Anastasia Dobromyslova 2-6 Andy Roberts
Louis Blundell 6-4 Ian Jopling
Board Three
Gary Stephens 3-6 Ken Mather (Preliminary Round)
Harry Robinson 0-6 Chris Cooper
Roland Scholten 6-1 Derek Williams
Dyson Parody 1-6 John MaGowan
Phil Currie 2-6 Steve Dolan
Board Four
Matthew Campbell 1-6 Stuart Bousfield
Peter Wright 6-4 Chris Hornby
Les Fitton 6-5 Mark Cox
Andy Pearce 5-6 Johnny Haines
Board Five
Adrian Genery 5-6 Chris Loudon
Ian Critchett 6-5 Kevin Beare
Graham Usher 3-6 Glen Durrant
Ken Mather 6-4 Robbie Parker
Board Six
Duane Garfield 3-6 Dave Smith
Paul Cook 6-2 Mike Langley
Steve Evans 6-3 Mark Layton
Par Riihonen 5-6 Steve Grubb
Board Seven
Chris Mason 3-6 Steve Penney
John McGuirk 6-2 Stuart Pickles
Stephen Hardy 6-2 Coen Wiekamp
David Fatum 5-6 Paul Rowley
Board Eight
Stuart Monaghan 3-6 Alan Davie
Lee Williams 6-1 Alan Caves
David Smurthwaite 2-6 Mark Jodrill
Joe Cullen 1-6 Justin Pipe
Second Round
Board One
Mick McGowan 3-6 John Part
Wayne Mardle 6-4 Les Fitton
Paul Nicholson 6-4 Gary Anderson
Andy Roberts 6-2 Steve Beaton
Board Two
Kirk Shepherd 3-6 Steve Brown
Nick Fullwell 1-6 Andy Smith
Alan Davie 2-6 Peter Wright
Tony Ayres 3-6 Justin Pipe
Board Three
Martyn Turner 4-6 Dave Honey
Jason Clark 6-4 Stuart Bousfield
Stephen Hardy 3-6 Jan van der Rassel
Michael Barnard 6-0 Steve Maish
Board Four
Matt Clark 3-6 Alex Roy
Tony Eccles 6-3 Toon Greebe
Paul Rowley 6-3 Dave Ladley
Glen Durrant 6-2 John McGuirk
Board Five
Ken Dobson 6-5 Paul Knighton
Gary Welding 6-0 John MaGowan
Steve Penney 5-6 Steve Grubb
Colin Monk 6-5 Larry Butler
Board Six
Adrian Gray 5-6 Dave Askew
Roland Scholten 6-1 Ian Critchett
Mark Jodrill 2-6 Chris Thompson
Louis Blundell 6-0 Kevin Dowling
Board Seven
Chris Loudon 5-6 Chris Cooper
Wes Newton 6-4 Andy Boulton
Dave Smith 2-6 Denis Ovens
Steve Evans 5-6 Steve Dolan
Board Eight
Mark Lawrence bye (Paul Cook disqualified)
Lee Williams 6-4 Wayne Atwood
Gary Mawson 4-6 Johnny Haines
Dennis Smith 1-6 Ken Mather
Third Round Draw & Order of Play (7pm Friday)
Board One
Michael van Gerwen v Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton
Lee Williams v Phil Taylor
Peter Manley v James Wade
Board Two
Denis Ovens v Alan Tabern
Mark Walsh v Wayne Mardle
Colin Lloyd v John Part
Raymond van Barneveld v Ken Dobson
Board Three
Ronnie Baxter v Tony Eccles
Barrie Bates v Steve Grubb
Roland Scholten v Darren Johnson
Andy Roberts v Louis Blundell
Board Four
Gary Welding v Steve Hine
Ken Mather v Paul Nicholson
Kevin Painter v Dave Askew
Dennis Priestley v Colin Monk
Board Five
Mark Dudbridge v Johnny Haines
Co Stompe v Mark Frost
Dave Honey v Wes Newton
Mark Webster v Peter Wright
Board Six
Colin Osborne v Jason Clark
Alex Roy v Lionel Sams
Jan van der Rassel v Jelle Klaasen
Andy Smith v Chris Cooper
Board Seven
Steve Dolan v Jamie Caven
Andy Jenkins v Justin Pipe
Brendan Dolan v Kevin McDine
Mervyn King v Michael Barnard
Board Eight
Vincent van der Voort v Wayne Jones
Steve Brown v Mark Lawrence
Paul Rowley v Chris Thompson
Glen Durrant v Terry Jenkins
Round-By-Round News
First Round of Games
Alex Roy picks up 6-1 victory over Richie Burnett on stage, averaging 96 and finishing 60 percent of his checkouts in an impressive
Stuart Bousfield enjoys his debut with a 6-1 win over local qualifier Matthew Campbell.
Scottish debutant Chris Loudon edges past Holsten Qualifier Adrian Genery in a deciding leg.
Ken Mather is the winner in the only preliminary round game, taking a 6-3 win over Gary Stephens - who battled back from 5-0 down to threaten a comeback.
Dave Ladley comes from 5-3 down to defeat Michael Smith 6-5 - capping a bad day for the teenager, who had failed his driving theory test before being rushed to Bolton by his father.
Newcastle's Alan Davie comes from behind to defeat Stuart Monaghan 6-3.
Steve Penney claims the scalp of Chris Mason with 6-3 victory, which was sealed by a 170 finish.
Chris Cooper whitewashes Holsten Qualifier Harry Robinson to progress to second round.
Second Round of Games
Dutch youngster Toon Greebe progressed with an impressive 6-3 win over James Barton on the main stage.
Manchester's Lee Williams is 6-1 winner in clash with Alan Caves.
Former News of the World champion Paul Cook overcomes fellow Holsten Qualifier Mike Langley 6-2.
Peter Wright, who has dyed his hair blue for the Blue Square UK Open, is 6-4 winner against Chris Hornby.
2004 UK Open champion Roland Scholten enjoys 6-1 win over Derek Williams.
Holsten Qualifier Andy Boulton picks up narrow 6-5 victory against Darren Latham.
Ian Critchett is 11-leg winner against Kevin Beare.
John McGuirk wins clash of Holsten Qualifiers with Stuart Pickles 6-2.
Third Round of Games
Gary Welding moves into round two with 6-2 win over American John Kuczynski.
Les Fitton comes from 5-3 down to win in a decider against Mark Cox, and now takes on Wayne Mardle on the main stage in round two.
Mark Jodrill defeats Holsten Qualifier Dave Smurthwaite 6-2.
Holsten Qualifier Andy Roberts enjoys 6-2 victory against Anastasia Dobromyslova, the only female competitor in the event who falls at the first hurdle for the second successive year.
Northern Ireland's John MaGowan is 6-1 winner against newcomer from Gibraltar, Dyson Parody.
Welshman Steve Evans wins 6-3 against Mark Layton.
Stephen Hardy wins the all-Essex battle with Coen Wiekamp 6-2.
Glen Durrant is 6-3 victor in clash with Graham Usher.
Fourth Round of Games
Justin Pipe is 6-1 winner in his game against young talent Joe Cullen.
2008 runner-up Gary Mawson wins 6-1 in clash with Darren Weaver, a Holsten Qualifier from Doncaster.
Chorley's Louis Blundell wins 6-4 against Ian Jopling.
Steve Grubb ends Par Riihonen's televised debut with final-leg victory.
Steve Dolan wins all-London clash 6-2 against Phil Currie.
Paul Rowley wins final two legs to edge out American David Fatum 6-5.
Swindon's Johnny Haines wins clash of Holsten Qualifiers against Andy Pearce in a deciding leg.
Ken Mather picks up second win of the night, defeating Robbie Parker 6-4 to reach round two.
Second Round
First Round of Games
Mark Lawrence progresses after Holsten Qualifier Paul Cook is disqualified for being late to his board.
Canada's John Part, the 2004 runner-up, is 6-3 winner in game with Mick McGowan.
Bristol's Steve Brown enjoys 6-3 win against former World Championship finalist Kirk Shepherd.
Dave Askew wins in a tight battle with Adrian Gray, taking a 6-5 victory.
Dave Honey progresses with 6-4 win over left-hander Martyn Turner.
Chris Cooper edges out fellow newcomer Chris Loudon to reach third round.
Ken Dobson wins north-east battle against Paul Knighton in a decider.
Alex Roy wins 6-3 against local-based Matt Clark.
Second Round of Games
Wayne Mardle battles from 3-0 and 4-3 down to win 6-4 against local star Les Fitton.
Roland Scholten puts himself into the last 64 with 6-1 defeat of Ian Critchett.
Lee Williams is 6-4 winner against Wayne Atwood to reach round three on his UK Open debut.
Andy Smth romps to 6-1 win against Nick Fullwell.
Jason Clark picks up 6-4 win over Stuart Bousfield.
Tony Eccles sees off Toon Greebe 6-3.
Wes Newton overcomes Holsten Qualifier Andy Boulton 6-4.
Gary Welding reaches round three with whitewash of John MaGowan.
Third Round of Games
2008 runner-up Gary Mawson is defeated 6-4 by Johnny Haines, the Holsten Qualifier.
Peter Wright progresses to last 64 with 6-2 defeat of Newcastle's Alan Davie.
Paul Nicholson takes out 132 finish on the bullseye to defeat Gary Anderson in an exciting high-profile stage game.
Holland's Jan van der Rassel wins 6-3 against Stephen Hardy.
Holsten Qualifier Paul Rowley ensures a place in Friday's draw with 6-3 win over Dave Ladley.
Steve Grubb edges out Steve Penney, while Chris Thompson - a quarter-finalist last year - wins 6-2 against Mark Jodrill.
Denis Ovens defeats Dave Smith 6-2 to progress to round three.
Fourth Round of Games
Teessider Glen Durrant is 6-2 winner against John McGuirk.
Michael Barnard whitewashes Essex rival Steve Maish.
Justin Pipe reaches round three with 6-3 win over Tony Ayres.
Holsten Qualifier Andy Roberts follows up earlier win over Anastasia Dobromyslova by knocking out another former World Champion, Steve Beaton, 6-2.
Local favourite Louis Blundell powers past Kevin Dowling in straight legs to reach third round.
Holsten Qualifier Ken Mather, who began the night in the preliminary round, wins a third match by seeing off Dennis Smith 6-1.
Steve Dolan is another Holsten Qualifier into the last 64 with narrow win over Steve Evans.
Colin Monk edges out Larry Butler in deciding leg.