TOP SEEDS Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor have drawn tough groups for the first round of the 2007 PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.
The draw for the 32-man tournament was made at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Monday morning, with the first round seeing players placed in eight four-man groups for the ITV-televised event.
Number one seed van Barneveld - the current PDC World Champion, has drawn Stoke's Adrian Lewis, double World Champion Dennis Priestley and ITV Wildcard Qualifier Chris Mason.
Taylor, meanwhile, faces former world number one Colin Lloyd and Wayne "Hawaii 501" Mardle, as well as the number one qualifier from the PDC Order of Merit at Monday 12 November - currently Ronnie Baxter.
Number three seed Gary Anderson, the Scot who has won the International Darts League and World Darts Trophy in 2007, will meet Welshman Barrie Bates and Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones, as well as the second PDC Order of Merit Qualifier.
James Wade, in-form number four seed who has won the last two PDC major tournaments, meets Lakeside Championship runner-up Phill Nixon and semi-finalist Niels de Ruiter, as well as Australian Pat Oreal.
2006 Lakeside Champion Jelle Klaasen is grouped with Peter Manley, Shaun Greatbatch and Kevin McDine, while Terry Jenkins meets Vincent van der Voort, Andy Hamilton and PDC South African Open champion Charles Losper.
Canada's two-time World Champion John Part will come up against Mark Webster, Andy Jenkins and US number one Gary Mawson.
Teenage wonderkid Michael van Gerwen has drawn fellow Dutchman Roland Scholten as well as Mervyn King and Dutch Open winner Scott Waites.
"There are some sensational groups," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. "This draw has really whet the appetite ahead of the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.
"Phil Taylor faces three massive first round matches, and Raymond van Barneveld will need the full support of the Barney Army in his group!
"The expectation is now building for this tournament, and the competition for the final two places will be fierce in the PDC Pro Tour over the next three weekends."
Taylor said: "It will be a good challenge for me and I'm looking forward to this. Colin and Wayne are always tough to play and it's looking like Ronnie Baxter will be the qualifier for my group - but whoever wins those final places will deserve it."
Former World Champion Steve Beaton - a member of the ITV Sport team during the tournament - conducted the draw alongside PDC Tournament Director Tommy Cox, and he added: "There will be some really good games.
"It's going to be an exciting event and it is capturing the imagination."
The round-robin first round will see each player face the others in his group over the best of nine legs, with games being played on Saturday, Sunday and either Monday or Tuesday.
The top two in each group will then progress to the knockout second round.
The tournament has a £300,000 prize fund, with £80,000 to the winner, and will be screened live in ITV.
Tickets for the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts are still available from the Midlands Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or via www.wolvescivic.co.uk.
PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts - First Round Groups
| Group A |
| Raymond van Barneveld (1) |
| Adrian Lewis |
| Dennis Priestley |
| Chris Mason |
| Group B |
| Terry Jenkins (8) |
| Vincent van der Voort |
| Andy Hamilton |
| Charles Losper |
| Group C |
| James Wade (4) |
| Phill Nixon |
| Niels de Ruiter |
| Pat Orreal |
| Group D |
| Jelle Klaasen (5) |
| Peter Manley |
| Shaun Greatbatch |
| Kevin McDine |
| Group E |
| Phil Taylor (2) |
| Colin Lloyd |
| Wayne Mardle |
| PDC Order of Merit Qualifier 1 |
| Group F |
| John Part (7) |
| Mark Webster |
| Andy Jenkins |
| Gary Mawson |
| Group G |
| Gary Anderson (3) |
| Barrie Bates |
| Wayne Jones |
| PDC Order of Merit Qualifier 2 |
| Group H |
| Michael van Gerwen (6) |
| Roland Scholten |
| Mervyn King |
| Scott Waites |