Taylor To Open WDT Defence Against Qualifier

PHIL TAYLOR will not learn the name of his opponent in the first round of the 2007 Bullit World Darts Trophy until 48 hours before the match, after the draw pitted the 13-time World Champion against any one of four qualifiers.

The tournament has been expanded this year, with 56 players competing at the Vechtsebanen, Utrecht, between August 31 and September 9.

Thirty two of those players - 16 from the PDC, 16 from the WDF/BDO - will play two preliminary rounds to determine eight qualifiers who will meet the top 12 from both ranking lists to battle it out for the €45,000 top prize.

Taylor will potentially face recent UK Open finalists Vincent van der Voort or Mark Walsh, or Gary Robson or Mark Barilli.

Reigning World Champion Raymond van Barneveld will also meet a qualifier in Michael Rosenauer (Germany), former World Champion Bob Anderson, or Dutchman Jelle Klaasen or Edwin Max.

Reports of Barrie Bates withdrawing from the tournament with injury were premature, with the Welshman named in the first preliminary round draw against Shaun Greatbatch despite continuing problems with his legs.

Full Draw

First Preliminary Round
Best of 5 sets/5 legs
Friday
19.00 Andy Jenkins (Eng) v Phill Nixon (Eng)
19.00 Paul Hanvidge (Sco) v Wayne Atwood (Wal)
19.00 Dietmar Burger (Aut) v Andy Smith (Eng)
19.00 Michael van Gerwen (Ned) v Robert Grant (NZl)
19.00 Ronnie Baxter (Eng) v Steve Duke Sr (Aus)
19.00 Jarkko Komula (Fin) v Denis Ovens (Eng)
19.00 Michael Rosenauer (Ger) v Bob Anderson (Eng)
19.00 Jelle Klaasen (Ned) v Edwin Max (Ned)
20.00 Kevin Painter (Eng) v Shane Tichowitsch (Aus)
20.00 Mario Robbe (Ned) v Gary Spedding (Eng)
20.00 Steve West (Eng) v Peter Allen (Eng)
20.00 Mervyn King (Eng) v Craig Pullen (NZl)
20.00 Barrie Bates (Wal) v Shaun Greatbatch (Eng)
20.00 Martin Atkins (Eng) v Alan Caves (Eng)
20.00 Gary Robson (Eng) v Mark Walsh (Eng)
20.00 Vincent van der Voort (Ned) v Mark Barilli (Sco)

Second Preliminary Round
Best of 5 sets/5 legs
Friday
21.00 A Jenkins / Nixon v Hanvidge / Atwood
21.00 Burger / A Smith v Van Gerwen / Grant
21.00 Baxter / Duke Sr v Komula / Ovens
21.00 Rosenauer / B Anderson v Klaasen / Max
21.00 Painter / Tichowitsch v Robbe / Spedding
21.00 S West / Allen v King / Pullen
21.00 Bates / Greatbatch v Atkins / Caves
21.00 Robson / Walsh v van der Voort / Barilli

First Round
Best of 5 sets/5 legs
Saturday
14.00 1 Gary Anderson (Sco, W1) v A Jenkins / Nixon / Hanvidge / Atwood
15.00 2 John Part (Can, P8) v Niels de Ruiter (Ned)
16.00 3 Simon Whitlock (Aus, W5) v Wayne Mardle (Eng)
20.00 4 Peter Manley (Eng, P4) v Burger / A Smith / Van Gerwen / Grant
21.00 5 Martin Adams (Eng, W3) v Baxter / Duke Sr / Komula / Ovens
22.00 6 Dennis Priestley (Eng, P6) v Mike Veitch (Sco)

Sunday
14.00 7 Tony O'Shea (Eng, W7) v Andy Hamilton (Eng)
15.00 8 R van Barneveld (Ned, P2) v Rosenauer / B Anderson / Klaasen / Max
16.00 9 Mark Webster (Wal, W2) v Painter / Tichowitsch / Robbe / Spedding
20.00 10 Adrian Lewis (Eng, P7) v John Walton (Eng)
21.00 11 Scott Waites (Eng, W6) v James Wade (Eng)
22.00 12 Colin Lloyd (Eng, P3) v S West / Allen / King / Pullen

Monday
20.00 13 Darryl Fitton (Eng, W4) v Bates / Greatbatch / Atkins / Caves
21.00 14 Terry Jenkins (Eng, P5) v Co Stompé (Ned)
22.00 15 Remco van Eijden (Ned, W8) v Roland Scholten (Ned)
23.00 16 Phil Taylor (Eng, P1) v Robson / Walsh / van der Voort / Barilli

Second Round
Best of 5 sets/5 legs
Tuesday
20.00 17 Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
21.00 18 Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4
22.00 19 Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6
23.00 20 Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 8

Wednesday
20.00 21 Winner Match 9 v Winner Match 10
21.00 22 Winner Match 11 v Winner Match 12
22.00 23 Winner Match 13 v Winner Match 14
23.00 24 Winner Match 15 v Winner Match 16

Quarter Finals
Best of 9 sets/5 legs
Thursday
20.00 25 Winner Match 17 v Winner Match 18
21.30 26 Winner Match 19 v Winner Match 20

Friday
20.00 27 Winner Match 21 v Winner Match 22
21.30 28 Winner Match 23 v Winner Match 24

Semi Finals
Best of 11 sets/5 legs
Saturday
16.00 29 Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 26
18.00 30 Winner Match 27 v Winner Match 28

Final
Best of 13 sets/5 legs
Sunday
20.00 31 Winner Match 29 v Winner Match 30