PHIL TAYLOR will begin the defence of his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship title against David Platt at the Circus Tavern on Monday 19 December.
Taylor will face the Staffordshire-based PDPA qualifier - who previously played in the event three years ago - on the opening night of the tournament, as he bids to win an unprecedented 13th World Championship.
Current world number one Colin Lloyd faces Gary Welding, a qualifier from St Helens, in another intriguing first round draw.
Last year's beaten finalist Mark Dudbridge will take on American qualifier Darin Young as he bids to go one better this year.
Other mouth-watering clashes include a repeat of last year's quarter-final between Bob Anderson and Andrew Hamilton, and rising star James Wade's meeting with Wayne Jones.
Canadian champion Gerry Convery will face Dave Askew, while Germans Tomas Seyler and Andree Welge take on Jamie Harvey and Alan Warriner-Little respectively on their debuts in the event.
John Kuczynski, the number one in the American rankings, was drawn against Lionel Sams, and New Zealander Warren Parry faces Budweiser UK Open finalist Mark Walsh.
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Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
First Round Draw ( ) denotes seeding and nationality
Colin Lloyd (1, Eng) V Gary Welding (Eng)
Darren Webster (32, Eng) V Erwin Extercatte (Ned)
Lionel Sams (16, Eng) V John Kuczynski (USA)
Steve Beaton (17, Eng) V Jan van der Rassel (Ned)
Andy Jenkins (8, Eng) V Patrick Bulen (Bel)
James Wade (25, Eng) V Wayne Jones (Eng)
Denis Ovens (9, Eng) V Geoff Wylie (N Ire)
Alan Caves (24, Eng) V Steve Alker (Wal)
Peter Manley (5 Eng) V Kevin Spiolek (Eng)
Steve Maish (28, Eng) V Jason Clark (Eng)
Mark Walsh (12, Eng) V Warren Parry (NZ)
Dennis Smith (21, Eng) V Mark Salmon (Wal)
Roland Scholten (4, Ned) V Dave Whitcombe (Eng)
Jamie Harvey (29, Sco) V Tomas Seyler (Ger)
Dennis Priestley (13, Eng) V John Magowan (N Ire)
Adrian Lewis (20, Eng) V Dave Honey (Eng)
Phil Taylor (2, Eng) V David Platt (Eng)
Matt Clark (31, Eng) V Ken Woods (Can)
Terry Jenkins (15, Eng) V Jimmy Mann (Eng)
Bob Anderson (18, Eng) V Andrew Hamilton (Eng)
Kevin Painter (7, Eng) V Dale Newton (Eng)
Wes Newton (26, Eng) V Yasuhiko Matsunaga (Jap)
Mark Dudbridge (10, Eng) V Darin Young (USA)
Alex Roy (23, Eng) V Alan Tabern (Eng)
Wayne Mardle (6, Eng) V Brian Roach (Aus)
Erik Clarys (27, Bel) V Winston Cadogan (Bar)
John Part (11, Can) V Liu Cheng'An (Chi)
Chris Mason (22, Eng) V Steve Hine (Eng)
Ronnie Baxter (3, Eng) V Ray Carver (USA)
Colin Monk (30, Eng) V Andy Smith (Eng)
Alan Warriner-Little (14 Eng) V Andree Welge (Ger)
Dave Askew (19, Eng) v Gerry Convery (Can)
The full 64-man field is comprised as follows:
Top 32 in PDC World Rankings
Colin Lloyd, Phil Taylor, Ronnie Baxter, Roland Scholten, Peter Manley, Wayne Mardle, Kevin Painter, Andy Jenkins, Denis Ovens, Mark Dudbridge, John Part, Mark Walsh, Dennis Priestley, Alan Warriner-Little, Terry Jenkins, Lionel Sams, Steve Beaton, Bob Anderson, Dave Askew, Adrian Lewis, Dennis Smith, Chris Mason, Alex Roy, Alan Caves, James Wade, Wes Newton, Erik Clarys, Steve Maish, Jamie Harvey, Colin Monk, Matt Clark, Darren Webster.
International Representatives
Patrick Bulen (Belgium), Winston Cadogan (Barbados), Ray Carver (USA), Lui Chen'An (China), Gerry Convery (Canada), Erwin Extercatte (Holland), John Kuczynski (USA), John Magowan (N Ireland), Yasuhiko Matsunaga (Japan), Warren Parry (New Zealand), Jan van der Rassel (Holland), Brian Roach (Australia), Tomas Seyler (Germany), Andree Welge (Germany), Ken Woods (Canada), Darin Young (USA).
PDPA Qualifiers
Andy Smith, Steve Hine, Steve Alker, David Platt, Jimmy Mann, Geoff Wylie, Wayne Jones, Dave Whitcombe, Gary Welding, Jason Clark, Alan Tabern, Dale Newton, Kevin Spiolek, Mark Salmon, Dave Honey, Andrew Hamilton.