PHIL TAYLOR will begin the defence of his StanJames.com World Matchplay title against Barrie Bates at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Tuesday July 20.
Taylor's bid for an 11th World Matchplay title will open against the Welsh star, who was the 2006 UK Open runner-up, when the pair clash at the Winter Gardens on the fourth day of this year's event.
The World Matchplay, held from July 17-25 in the Empress Ballroom at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, will also feature former champions James Wade and Colin Lloyd, who take on Andy Smith and Kevin Painter respectively in the first round.
The field for the tournament was confirmed following Tuesday's Las Vegas Players Championship, which was won by Co Stompe - one of the 16 Players Championship Order of Merit qualifiers who join the world's top 16 in challenging for the £100,000 title.
Paul Nicholson returned to 16th in the PDC Order of Merit after going further than Gary Anderson in the event, with the Scot a second round loser to Wales' Steve Evans before Nicholson lost to Nigel Heydon in the last 32.
With Nicholson securing the final automatic qualifying place via the PDC Order of Merit, Anderson qualifies for the World Matchplay through the Players Championship Order of Merit alongside 15 other players.
Tony Eccles hung on to the last spot, ahead of Heydon and Monday's semi-finalist Chris Thompson - with the pair both defeating Taylor in Las Vegas but falling just short of a World Matchplay spot.
Klaasen, Nicholson, Steve Brown and Mark Webster all qualify for their debuts in Blackpool as a result of their performances in the 21 Players Championships staged so far this year.
Nicholson, who could face Taylor in round two, meets Steve Beaton, Klaasen drew world number four Mervyn King, Bristol's Brown takes on two-time runner-up Terry Jenkins and Webster drew Stoke's Adrian Lewis.
World number two Raymond van Barneveld will begin his challenge against Denis Ovens, a semi-finalist in the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open recently.
Anderson, who was the runner-up to Taylor in Bolton and also won a Players Championship in Las Vegas on Monday, drew Scottish rival Robert Thornton in round one.
The tournament will kick off on Saturday July 17, with Dennis Priestley facing Vincent van der Voort in the opening game, with Colin Osborne meeting Wayne Jones, van Barneveld taking on Ovens and Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter clashing with Jamie Caven.
Sunday's second night of first round action will open with Andy Hamilton's game against Stompe, Lewis versus Webster, Wade taking on Smith and the all-Lancashire battle between Alan Tabern and Fleetwood's Wes Newton.
Simon Whitlock, who has powered into the world's top 16 over the past year, joins Klaasen and Brown in making his Winter Gardens debut on Monday July 19, when he faces Tony Eccles.
Essex-born pair Lloyd and Painter will open the final night of first round games on Tuesday July 20, with Mark Walsh meeting 2004 runner-up Mark Dudbridge, Taylor facing Bates and Nicholson playing Beaton.
Tickets for the StanJames.com World Matchplay remain on sale, although certain sessions have sold out.
For full information or to purchase, visit the Winter Gardens Box Office or call 0844 856 1111.
Click here for further ticket information and prices
StanJames.com World Matchplay
Draw & Tournament Bracket
Dennis Priestley (14) v Vincent van der Voort
James Wade (3) v Andy Smith
Colin Osborne (11) V Wayne Jones
Ronnie Baxter (6) v Jamie Caven
Andy Hamilton (10) v Co Stompe
Adrian Lewis (7) v Mark Webster
Alan Tabern (15) v Wes Newton
Raymond van Barneveld (2) v Denis Ovens
Robert Thornton (13) v Gary Anderson
Mervyn King (4) v Jelle Klaasen
Simon Whitlock (12) v Tony Eccles
Terry Jenkins (5) v Steve Brown
Colin Lloyd (9) v Kevin Painter
Mark Walsh (8) v Mark Dudbridge
Paul Nicholson (16) v Steve Beaton
Phil Taylor (1) v Barrie Bates
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 17
First Round
7.10pm Dennis Priestley v Vincent van der Voort
8.00pm Colin Osborne v Wayne Jones
9.00pm Raymond van Barneveld v Denis Ovens
10.00pm Ronnie Baxter v Jamie Caven
Sunday July 18
First Round
7.10pm Andy Hamilton v Co Stompe
8.00pm Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster
9.00pm James Wade v Andy Smith
10.00pm Alan Tabern v Wes Newton
Monday July 19
First Round
7.10pm Terry Jenkins v Steve Brown
8.00pm Simon Whitlock v Tony Eccles
9.00pm Robert Thornton v Gary Anderson
10.00pm Mervyn King v Jelle Klaasen
Tuesday July 20
First Round
7.10pm Colin Lloyd v Kevin Painter
8.00pm Mark Walsh v Mark Dudbridge
9.00pm Phil Taylor v Barrie Bates
10.00pm Paul Nicholson v Steve Beaton
Wednesday July 21
Second Round
7.10pm Osborne/Jones v Baxter/Caven
8.20pm Hamilton/Stompe v Lewis/Webster
9.30pm Priestley/van der Voort v Wade/Smith
10.40pm Tabern/Newton v van Barneveld/Ovens
Thursday July 22
Second Round
7.10pm Thornton/Anderson v King/Klaasen
8.20pm Lloyd/Painter v Walsh/Dudbridge
9.30pm Nicholson/Beaton v Taylor/Bates
10.40pm Whitlock/Eccles v Jenkins/Brown
Friday July 23
Quarter-Finals
1.10pm Priestley/van der Voort/Wade/Smith v Osborne/Jones/Baxter/Caven
3.00pm Thornton/Anderson/King/Klaasen v Whitlock/Eccles/Jenkins/Brown
7.10pm Hamilton/Stompe/Lewis/Webster v Tabern/Newton/van Barneveld/Ovens
9.00pm Lloyd/Painter/Walsh/Dudbridge v Nicholson/Beaton/Taylor/Bates
Saturday July 24
Semi-Finals
7.10pm
9.00pm
Followed by PDC Unicorn Women's World Championship Final, Stacy Bromberg v Tricia Wright
Sunday July 25
Final
7.00pm
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