JAMES WADE will begin the defence of his Sky Poker World Grand Prix against Tony Eccles next month, while Phil Taylor meets Ronnie Baxter at the Citywest Hotel.
Wade defeated Terry Jenkins to claim the Dublin title last October, and will open up this year's event on Monday October 6 against qualifier Eccles, who will be making his debut in the double-start tournament.
Seven-time World Grand Prix champion Taylor, the world number one who has claimed the PDC US Open, Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay titles already this year, opens his challenge against in-form Baxter, who won a Players Championship in Wales on Saturday.
Taylor famously lost to Adrian Gray in the first round of last year's tournament, suffering only his third loss in the history of the event, with all coming in the best-of-three set opener.
World number two Raymond van Barneveld also drew a form player, Alan Tabern - who knocked the Dutchman out of the Desert Classic earlier this year and won Sunday's Welsh Players Championship.
2004 champion Colin Lloyd faces Vincent van der Voort, while World Champion John Part meets Chris Mason.
Dublin's Mick McGowan will make his debut in the World Grand Prix against Terry Jenkins, while Northern Ireland's Felix McBrearty - a shock Players Championship winner in his home town of Dromore recently - takes on number six seed Wayne Mardle.
The schedule of play will be confirmed early next week.
Tickets for the Sky Poker World Grand Prix are still available on 00353 (0) 1 401 0500 or via darts08@citywesthotel.com.
Sky Poker World Grand Prix First Round Draw & Bracket
James Wade (3) v Tony Eccles
Mervyn King v Wayne Jones
Wayne Mardle (6) v Felix McBrearty
Dennis Priestley v Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd (7) v Vincent van der Voort
Mark Dudbridge v Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld (2) v Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis v Roland Scholten
John Part (4) v Chris Mason
Jacko Barry v Brendan Dolan
Terry Jenkins (5) v Mick McGowan
Mark Walsh v Steve Beaton
Andy Hamilton (8) v Andy Smith
Robert Thornton v Peter Manley
Phil Taylor (1) v Ronnie Baxter
John MaGowan v Colin Osborne
Wade defeated Terry Jenkins to claim the Dublin title last October, and will open up this year's event on Monday October 6 against qualifier Eccles, who will be making his debut in the double-start tournament.
Seven-time World Grand Prix champion Taylor, the world number one who has claimed the PDC US Open, Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay titles already this year, opens his challenge against in-form Baxter, who won a Players Championship in Wales on Saturday.
Taylor famously lost to Adrian Gray in the first round of last year's tournament, suffering only his third loss in the history of the event, with all coming in the best-of-three set opener.
World number two Raymond van Barneveld also drew a form player, Alan Tabern - who knocked the Dutchman out of the Desert Classic earlier this year and won Sunday's Welsh Players Championship.
2004 champion Colin Lloyd faces Vincent van der Voort, while World Champion John Part meets Chris Mason.
Dublin's Mick McGowan will make his debut in the World Grand Prix against Terry Jenkins, while Northern Ireland's Felix McBrearty - a shock Players Championship winner in his home town of Dromore recently - takes on number six seed Wayne Mardle.
The schedule of play will be confirmed early next week.
Tickets for the Sky Poker World Grand Prix are still available on 00353 (0) 1 401 0500 or via darts08@citywesthotel.com.
Sky Poker World Grand Prix First Round Draw & Bracket
James Wade (3) v Tony Eccles
Mervyn King v Wayne Jones
Wayne Mardle (6) v Felix McBrearty
Dennis Priestley v Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd (7) v Vincent van der Voort
Mark Dudbridge v Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld (2) v Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis v Roland Scholten
John Part (4) v Chris Mason
Jacko Barry v Brendan Dolan
Terry Jenkins (5) v Mick McGowan
Mark Walsh v Steve Beaton
Andy Hamilton (8) v Andy Smith
Robert Thornton v Peter Manley
Phil Taylor (1) v Ronnie Baxter
John MaGowan v Colin Osborne