THE draw for the opening night of the 2008 Blue Square UK Open on Thursday June 5 at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.
The first night sees eight Preliminary Round games followed by the First and Second Rounds taking place, with America's John Kuczynski facing Holsten Qualifier Johnny Haines in the pick of the opening matches.
The main stage will also see two high-profile Holsten Qualifiers meet, when World Masters champion Robert Thornton takes on Russia's World Ladies Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova.
Two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley faces Bolton debutant Danny King in another big First Round contest.
The Second Round draw has pitted Kevin Painter against Tony Eccles, Wayne Mardle against Gary Welding and Matt Clark against Steve Beaton in clashes which will take place on the main stage, alongside world number five Terry Jenkins facing Joey Palfreyman or Holsten Qualifier Mel Davies.
World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd opens against Dutchman Jan van der Rassel, while Dennis Smith faces one of two Holsten Qualifiers, Bradford youngster Joe Cullen or Mark Stapleton.
Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez will make his debut in a major PDC tournament against Michael Barnard, Paul Cooper or Paul McDine, while Andy Jenkins faces Alan Caves or Michael Smith.
The top 32 players, including defending champion Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor, come into the event on Friday June 6 at the Third Round stage.
The draw was made at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut ahead of the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open, and made by PDPA Director Alan Warriner-Little and PDC Tournament Director Tommy Cox. The Third Round draw will be made live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of the Second Round play on Thursday June 5.
UPDATE: Darren Williams has withdrawn from the Blue Square UK Open to undergo a knee operation. As such, his opponent (John Kuczynsky or Johnny Haines) receives a bye. The PDC wish Darren a speedy recovery.
Update (4/6/08): Jimmy Mann has withdrawn from the Blue Square UK Open due to work commitments. His second round opponent, John MaGowan, receives a bye.
Tickets are still available for the Blue Square UK Open - prices start at £10 - call 0871 871 2932 or contact ticketsales@bwfc.co.uk.
Blue Square UK Open
Preliminary Round & First Round
Board One
John Kuczynski v Johnny Haines (P)
Jamie Harvey v Richie Burnett
Robert Thornton v Anastasia Dobromyslova
Danny King v Dennis Priestley
Dave Honey v N Turner/Fitzpatrick
Board Two
Scott Mitton v Scott Waites (P)
Alan Caves v Michael Smith
Gary Mawson v Darren Johnson
Stuart Pickles v Dave Johnston
Ian Jopling v Ken Dobson
Board Three
Mark Jodrill v Paul Whitworth (P)
Joey Palfreyman v Mel Davies
Darren Sutton v Martin Burchell
Dave Harris v Mick Savvery
Casey/Green v Lee Palfreyman
Board Four
Paul Knighton v Nigel Birch (P)
John Quantock v Gary Noonan
Dan Timmins v Andrew Callary
David Howells v Tony Ayres
Hillier/Hornby v Darren Webster
Board Five
Nicky Turner v Gordon Fitzpatrick (P)
Martyn Turner v Alan Reynolds
Harry Anderson v Bob Crawley
Adrian Welsh v Dave Woodwards
Dave Ladley v Jodrill/Whitworth
Board Six
Alan Casey v Alan Green (P)
Geoff Harkup v Tony Mitchell
Paul Cook v Eddie Lovely
Kuczynski/Haines Bye (Darren Williams withdrawn)
Aaron Turner v Mitton/Waites
Board Seven
Michael Barnard v Paul Cooper (P)
Shane Passey v Joe Bata
Sean Palfrey v Jamie Robinson
Ryan Francis v Lee White
Dale Pinch v Knighton/Birch
Board Eight
Steve Hillier v Chris Hornby (P)
Joe Cullen v Mark Stapleton
Sam Rooney v Richie Corner
Geoff Wylie v Justin Pipe
Barnard/Cooper v Paul McDine
Second Round
Board One
Terry Jenkins v J Palfreyman/Davies
Gary Welding v Wayne Mardle
Kevin Painter v Tony Eccles
Matt Clark v Steve Beaton
Board Two
Jan van der Rassel v Kirk Shepherd
Thornton/Dobromyslova v Anderson/Crawley
Cullen/Stapleton v Dennis Smith
Barnard/Cooper/McDine v Carlos Rodriguez
Board Three
John MaGowan Bye (Jimmy Mann withdrawn)
Cook/Lovely v Rooney/Corner
Steve Hine v Dave Askew
Pinch/Knighton/Birch v Passey/Bata
Board Four
Andy Jenkins v Caves/M Smith
Mark Frost v Mawson/Johnson
Kevin Dowling v Honey/N Turner/Fitzpatrick
Mick McGowan v D King/Priestley
Board Five
Steve Evans v Owen Caffrey
Sutton/Burchell v David Platt
Howells/Ayres v Ladley/Jodrill/Whitworth
Kuczynski/Haines v Jason Clark
Board Six
Jamie Caven v Steve Smith
M Turner/Reynolds v Quantock/Noonan
Francis/White v A Turner/Mitton/Waites
Steve Maish v Jopling/Dobson
Board Seven
Harkup/Mitchell v Alan Warriner-Little
Jason Barry v Welsh/Woodwards
Hillier/Hornby/Webster v Mark Lawrence
Lionel Sams v Wylie/Pipe
Board Eight
Timmins/Callary v John Ferrell
Simon Whatley v Palfrey/Robinson
Harvey/Burnett v Harris/Savvery
Pickles/Johnston v Casey/Green/L Palfreyman
At the conclusion of play the Third Round draw will be made.