PHIL TAYLOR will begin his bid for a record-extending 14th BetVictor World Matchplay title against Stuart Kellett later this month, while tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen has been drawn against 2005 champion Colin Lloyd.
Taylor, the reigning champion who is looking to win a record sixth successive title, meets Cheshire-based debutant Kellett in the first round of the event at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Sunday July 21.
Kellett, the UK Masters runner-up in March, is one of the 16 qualifiers for the tournament from the ProTour Order of Merit, who join the top 16 from the world rankings in the field.
World Grand Prix and Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen, the 5/2 favourite with sponsors BetVictor, will also be in action on Sunday July 21 against Colin Lloyd, who won the 2005 World Matchplay with an 18-12 defeat of John Part.
Part - a two-time runner-up - has drawn world number four James Wade, who was the 2007 champion and has also reached four finals in Blackpool since 2006 in a brilliant run and faces the Canadian on the event's opening night on Saturday July 20.
2010 runner-up Raymond van Barneveld, the number eight seed, takes on Austrian debutant Mensur Suljovic on the opening night, while world number five Simon Whitlock faces Jelle Klaasen and Terry Jenkins, a two-time finalist, meets Andy Smith.
Sunday's afternoon session in Blackpool will kick off as world number ten Justin Pipe faces Welsh ace Mark Webster, while Kevin Painter meets debutant Jamie Lewis, Belgian Kim Huybrechts play in-form Peter Wright and Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan tackles former World Champion Steve Beaton.
Taylor's clash wth Kellett and van Gerwen's meeting with Lloyd top the bill on Sunday evening, with Mervyn King kicking off the session against Gary Anderson before Dave Chisnall plays Paul Nicholson.
The first round will conclude on Monday when Adrian Lewis, last weekend's European Championship winner, plays Belgian debutant Ronny Huybrechts.
Wes Newton, the number seven seed who hit a nine-darter at last year's World Matchplay, takes on in-form Jamie Caven, while Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter plays world number six Andy Hamilton and Robert Thornton faces Ian White.
The second round will be played across two evenings on Tuesday July 23 and Wednesday July 24, with the quarter-finals then taking place on Thursday July 25 and Friday July 26.
The semi-finals of the event will be held on Saturday July 27, with the 20th World Matchplay winner being crowned in the final on Sunday July 28.
Tickets, priced from £20-£50 are available now by calling 0844 856 1111 and online via www.blackpoollive.co.uk, and can also be purchased through www.viagogo.co.uk. Hotel & Ticket packages can also be purchased through www.thomascooksport.com.
BetVictor World Matchplay
First Round Draw & Tournament Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Stuart Kellett
Terry Jenkins (16) v Andy Smith
Raymond van Barneveld (8) v Mensur Suljovic
Justin Pipe (9) v Mark Webster
Simon Whitlock (5) v Jelle Klaasen
Kevin Painter (12) v Jamie Lewis
James Wade (4) v John Part
Mervyn King (13) v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Colin Lloyd
Kim Huybrechts (15) v Peter Wright
Wes Newton (7) v Jamie Caven
Dave Chisnall (10) v Paul Nicholson
Andy Hamilton (6) v Ronnie Baxter
Robert Thornton (11) v Ian White
Adrian Lewis (3) v Ronny Huybrechts
Brendan Dolan (14) v Steve Beaton
BetVictor World Matchplay
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 20 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Terry Jenkins v Andy Smith
Raymond van Barneveld v Mensur Suljovic
James Wade v John Part
Simon Whitlock v Jelle Klaasen
Sunday July 21
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
First Round
Justin Pipe v Mark Webster
Kevin Painter v Jamie Lewis
Kim Huybrechts v Peter Wright
Brendan Dolan v Steve Beaton
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Mervyn King v Gary Anderson
Dave Chisnall v Paul Nicholson
Phil Taylor v Stuart Kellett
Michael van Gerwen v Colin Lloyd
Monday July 22 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Robert Thornton v Ian White
Wes Newton v Jamie Caven
Adrian Lewis v Ronny Huybrechts
Andy Hamilton v Ronnie Baxter
Tuesday July 23 (7pm-12am)
Second Round
van Barneveld/Suljovic v Pipe/Webster
Whitlock/Klaasen v Painter/J Lewis
Taylor/Kellett v Jenkins/Smith
Wade/Part v King/Anderson
Wednesday July 24 (7pm-12am)
Second Round
Hamilton/Baxter v Thornton/White
A Lewis/R Huybrechts v Dolan/Beaton
van Gerwen/Lloyd v K Huybrechts/Wright
Newton/Caven v Chisnall/Nicholson
Thursday July 25 (7pm-11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Friday July 26 (7pm-11pm)
Quarter-Finals x2
Saturday July 27 (7pm-10pm)
Semi-Finals
Sunday July 28 (7pm-9pm)
Final
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Second Round - Best of 25 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs
Final - Best of 35 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death. There will be no re-throw for the bull in this instance.
For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12, then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg
Prize Fund
Winner £100,000
Runner-Up £50,000
Semi-Finalists £25,000
Quarter-Finalists £15,000
Second Round Losers £7,500
First Round Losers £5,000
Total £400,000
* In addition, should any player achieve a nine-dart finish, they would receive a £5,000 bonus. In the event of more than one player hitting a nine-dart finish, the bonus would be shared on a pro-rata basis.