Taylor has won the previous three stagings of the European Championship since the tournament was introduced in 2008, defeating Adrian Lewis, Steve Beaton and Wayne Jones in the respective finals.

The 50-year-old from Stoke has drawn debutant qualifier John Michael, a Greek player who will be making his first televised appearance, in Thursday’s first round, with the game over the best of 11 legs.

Taylor retained his World Matchplay title for a fourth successive year in Blackpool last week, defeating James Wade in the final, and is targeting a repeat of that success in the ITV4-televised event in Germany.

“I was delighted to win the World Matchplay and my target now is to keep hold of the European Championship title too,” said Taylor, who is unbeaten in 15 previous matches in the event.

“I’ve enjoyed this event for the last three years and it’s my plan to make it four in a row.

“I don’t know much about John but I’ve seen him a couple of times and he’s a good player. In a short format I know I’ll have to be on top of my game on Thursday and will have to start well.”

The PDC’s top 16 players are joined by eight Players Championship Order of Merit qualifiers and eight European Order of Merit qualifiers in the event, with Greek ace Michael earning his place by virtue of his displays in Players Championships held in Germany, Austria and Holland earlier this year.

Thursday’s eight first round games feature the 16 players in the top half of the draw, and include world number four Gary Anderson up against Derby’s Jamie Caven, a quarter-finalist in last year’s European Championship.

Simon Whitlock, the number five seed, takes on Austria’s Mensur Suljovic as he looks to bounce back from his quarter-final defeat to Andy Hamilton in the World Matchplay, which saw him lose nine successive legs from 15-8 up to lose 17-15.

The night also features a clash between the players ranked eighth and ninth in the world, Mark Webster and Terry Jenkins – who was a semi-finalist in last year’s European Championship.

The tournament will open when Mervyn King plays Dutch ace Co Stompe, while Justin Pipe meets Paul Nicholson, Alan Tabern faces Colin Lloyd – also a semi-finalist in the 2010 European Championship – and Canada’s three-time World Champion John Part takes on Peter Wright.

Friday sees World Champion Adrian Lewis take on Vincent van der Voort, having defeated the Dutchman 13-5 in the second round of the World Matchplay, while number three seed James Wade takes on Magnus Caris.

Wade won June’s UK Open and was the runner-up in the World Matchplay, and said: “I’ve been in good form recently but I can’t take anything for granted because Magnus is a good player with a lot of experience, and I have to make sure I perform well on Friday.”

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld takes on Andy Hamilton, who reached the semi-finals of the World Matchplay last week in a return to form which saw him move back into the world’s top 16 and qualify for the European Championship.

Wes Newton is the other seeded player in the bottom half of the draw, having risen to seventh in the world following his quarter-final appearance in the World Matchplay.

The in-form Fleetwood ace takes on Andy Smith in the first round, having defeated the same opponent 10-2 in his opener in Blackpool recently, but said: “It will be a different game on Thursday and I’m expecting a tough test from Andy.

“He’s been playing well this year and is very dangerous in the short format, but I’m happy with how I’m playing and looking forward to it.”

Friday also sees Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts make his debut in a major TV event when he plays Spain’s emerging Antonio Alcinas, with both players having performed well in the European-based events this year.

Dutch pair Jelle Klaasen and Michael van Gerwen take on Dave Chisnall and Ronnie Baxter respectively, while last year’s runner-up Wayne Jones meets Mark Walsh.

The second round of the £200,000 event will be played across two sessions on Saturday, with the quarter-finals taking place on Sunday afternoon and both the semi-finals and final being played on Sunday evening in one dramatic session.

Coverage of the PartyPoker.net European Championship is live in the UK on ITV4, and will also be screened live in LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

PartyPoker.net European Championship
First Round Schedule of Play
Thursday July 28
8pm-12am local time, 7pm-11pm BST
Mervyn King v Co Stompe
Alan Tabern v Colin Lloyd
John Part v Peter Wright
Justin Pipe v Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock v Mensur Suljovic
Phil Taylor v John Michael
Mark Webster v Terry Jenkins
Gary Anderson v Jamie Caven

Friday July 29
8pm-12am local time, 7pm-11pm BST
Wayne Jones v Mark Walsh
Jelle Klaasen v Dave Chisnall
Ronnie Baxter v Michael van Gerwen
Kim Huybrechts v Antonio Alcinas
James Wade v Magnus Caris
Adrian Lewis v Vincent van der Voort
Wes Newton v Andy Smith
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton

ENDS

Further Information:
Tournament Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1, ENG) v John Michael (GRE)
Mervyn King (ENG) v Co Stompe (NED)
Mark Webster (8, WAL) v Terry Jenkins (ENG)
Justin Pipe (ENG) v Paul Nicholson (AUS)
Simon Whitlock (5, AUS) v Mensur Suljovic (AUT)
Alan Tabern (ENG) v Colin Lloyd (ENG)
Gary Anderson (4, SCO) v Jamie Caven (ENG)
John Part (CAN) v Peter Wright (ENG)
Adrian Lewis (2, ENG) v Vincent van der Voort (NED)
Jelle Klaasen (NED) v Dave Chisnall (ENG)
Wes Newton (7, ENG) v Andy Smith (ENG)
Kim Huybrechts (BEL) v Antonio Alcinas (ESP)
Raymond van Barneveld (6, NED) v Andy Hamilton (ENG)
Wayne Jones (ENG) v Mark Walsh (ENG)
James Wade (3, ENG) v Magnus Caris (SWE)
Ronnie Baxter (ENG) v Michael van Gerwen (NED)

Schedule of Play (times local, BST+1)
Thursday July 28
First Round
8.05pm Mervyn King v Co Stompe
8.35pm Alan Tabern v Colin Lloyd
9.05pm John Part v Peter Wright
9.35pm Justin Pipe v Paul Nicholson
10.05pm Simon Whitlock v Mensur Suljovic
10.35pm Phil Taylor v John Michael
11.05pm Mark Webster v Terry Jenkins
11.35pm Gary Anderson v Jamie Caven

Friday July 29
First Round
8.05pm Wayne Jones v Mark Walsh
8.35pm Jelle Klaasen v Dave Chisnall
9.05pm Ronnie Baxter v Michael van Gerwen
9.35pm Kim Huybrechts v Antonio Alcinas
10.05pm James Wade v Magnus Caris
10.35pm Adrian Lewis v Vincent van der Voort
11.05pm Wes Newton v Andy Smith
11.35pm Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton

Saturday July 30
Second Round
2.10pm Whitlock/Suljovic v Tabern/Lloyd
3.10pm Webster/Jenkins v Pipe/Nicholson
4.10pm Taylor/Michael v King/Stompe
5.10pm Anderson/Caven v Part/Wright

8.10pm Newton/Smith v Huybrechts/Alcinas
9.10pm Lewis/van der Voort v Klaasen/Chisnall
10.10pm Wade/Caris v Baxter/van Gerwen
11.10pm van Barneveld/Hamilton v Jones/Walsh

Sunday July 31
Quarter-Finals
2pm onwards
Order TBC

Semi-Finals
8pm onwards
Order TBC

Final
Approx 10.30pm

Format
First Round – Best of 11 legs
Second Round – Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals – Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals – Best of 21 legs
Final – Best of 21 legs

Prize Fund
Winner £50,000
Runner-Up £20,000
Semi-Finalists £10,000
Quarter-Finalists £7,500
Second Round Losers £5,000
First Round Losers £2,500
Total £200,000
NB – there is no bonus for a nine-dart finish

Previous Winners
2008 – Phil Taylor defeated Adrian Lewis 11-5 (Frankfurt, Germany)
2009 – Phil Taylor defeated Steve Beaton 11-3 (Hoofddorp, Holland)
2010 – Phil Taylor defeated Wayne Jones 11-1 (Dinslaken, Germany)

Taylor, the 15-time World Champion and reigning Grand Slam of Darts champion, and two-time Lakeside Championship winner Hankey were drawn alongside Wes Newton and Michael van Gerwen in one of eight groups for the tournament, which begins at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday.

The pair entered last year’s Grand Slam of Darts as darts’ respective World Champions, but a showdown failed to materialise when Hankey lost out in the first round.

They will get their chance to compete next week, although Taylor will open his defence in the group stage on Sunday against 21-year-old Dutch ace van Gerwen, who won through to the PDC Unicorn Under-21 World Championship final last weekend.

Hankey will take on in-form Wes Newton in their first game of the round-robin stage, with the Fleetwood ace having won through Friday’s ITV Wildcard Qualifier to earn a spot in Wolverhampton before claiming back-to-back Players Championship victories in Barnsley.

The Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts will begin on Saturday evening with the first games from Groups A-D, which will include the meeting of Simon Whitlock and Dave Chisnall – who lost in PDC World Championship final and Lakeside Championship finals respectively in January.

Colin Osborne and Robert Thornton complete Group A, while Gary Anderson, Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones, Mark Webster and Mark Hylton – another ITV Wildcard Qualifier – form Group B.

PDC Unicorn Women’s World Champion Stacy Bromberg was drawn into Group C alongside number seven seed Mervyn King, 2008 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up Terry Jenkins and Scottish debutant John Henderson.

World number two James Wade, who hit a nine-dart finish in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts, heads up Group D and will come up against Vincent van der Voort, Tony O’Shea and the other ITV Wildcard Qualifier, Rugeley’s Mark Hylton.

The remaining four groups will play their opening games on Sunday afternoon, and Group E will feature number five seed Adrian Lewis, alongside last year’s Grand Slam runner-up Scott Waites, Co Stompe and Wales’ Martin Phillips.

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, Colin Lloyd, Darryl Fitton and Tricia Wright – the Women’s World Championship finalist – will form Group F.

Group G is headed by number eight seed Paul Nicholson, who won January’s Players Championship Finals to claim his maiden major title, and also features Ronnie Baxter, Steve Beaton and Arron Monk – the 20-year-old from Hampshire who joins van Gerwen in the Under-21 World Championship Final in January.

Groups A-D will play their second games on Sunday night and their final round-robin contests on Tuesday, with Groups E-H competing on Sunday afternoon, Monday night and Wednesday night at the Wolves Civic.

The draw for the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts was made by former Aston Villa midfielder Ian Taylor live on BRMB Radio’s Sports Bar show on Monday night.

The Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts will be played from November 13-21 at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, and screened live on ITV4. For tickets, call 0870 320 7000 or visit the Wolves Civic Box Office.

Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts
GROUP A
Simon Whitlock (3)
Colin Osborne
Robert Thornton
Dave Chisnall

GROUP B
Gary Anderson (6)
Wayne Jones
Mark Webster
Mark Hylton

GROUP C
Mervyn King (7)
Terry Jenkins
John Henderson
Stacy Bromberg

GROUP D
James Wade (2)
Vincent van der Voort
Tony O’Shea
Justin Pipe

GROUP E
Adrian Lewis (5)
Co Stompe
Scott Waites
Martin Phillips

GROUP F
Raymond van Barneveld (4)
Colin Lloyd
Darryl Fitton
Tricia Wright

GROUP G
Paul Nicholson (8)
Ronnie Baxter
Steve Beaton
Arron Monk

GROUP H
Phil Taylor (1)
Wes Newton
Ted Hankey
Michael van Gerwen

Julie Gore won the ladies event, beating Francisca Hoenselaar 4-1 in the final.

Winmau World Masters Results from this year’s tournament. Live Stream.

Sunay is finals day at the Winmau World Masters. The order of play is as follows:-

09.00 Girls Final: Zoe Jones (Eng) 4-0 Sarah Rosèn (Sweden)
09.30 Boys Final: Kurtis Atkins (Eng) 1-4 Reece Robinson (Eng)
10.00 Semi-Final Karin Krappen (Neth) 3-4 Julie Gore (Wal)
10.30 Women: Semi-Final Lisa Ashton (Eng) 3-4 Francisca Hoenselaar (Neth)
11.00 Women: Masters Final Julie Gore (Wal) 4-1 Francisca Hoenselaar (Neth)
12.00 Men: Semi-Final Martin Phillips (Wal) 5-6 Stuart kellett (Eng)
14.00 Men: Semi-Final Martin Adams (Eng) 6-3 Martin McCloskey (Rep. Ire) Live BBC2
15.30 Men: Masters Final Stuart kellett (Eng) 0-0 Martin Adams (Eng) Live BBC2

Saturday the 8 seeded players enter the tournament to take on the eight qualifiers from the floor matches. The format is best of 5 sets, with 3 legs in each set. The order of play is as follows.

09.00 Garry Thompson (England) 0 v 3 Martin Phillips (Wales)
09.30 Scott Waites (England) 3 v 0 Jerry Hendricks (Netherlands)
10.00 Stuart Kellett (England) 3 v 1 Tony West (England)
10.30 Ross Montgomery (Scotland) 2 v 3 Ted Hankey (England)
11.00 Steve West (England) 2 v 3 Ian Jones (England)
11.30 Dean Winstanley (England) 3 v 1 Stewart Rattray (Scotland)
13.00 Martin Adams (England) 3 v 2 Jan Dekker (Netherlands)
13.30 Tony O’Shea (England) 2 v 3 Martin McCloskey (Rep. Ireland)

Quarter-Finals:

Martin Adams 3 v 1 Scott Waites
Martin McCloskey 3 v 0 Dean Winstanley
Stuart Kellett 3 v 2 Ted Hankey
Martin Phillips 3 v 1 Ian Jones

The drawsheets for all events in the 2010 Winmau World Masters are available on the links below.

Mens Masters | Mens Masters (Finals) | Womens Masters | Boys Masters | Girls Masters

WINMAU CELEBRATE 65 YEARS AS A BRAND LEADER

2010 marks the 65th anniversary of the World famous Winmau darts equipment brand, and what better way to celebrate than by unveiling the brand new BLADE4 for the BBC televised 2010 Winmau World Masters? The Blade4 has a new and dynamic sector wiring system that is 50% thinner to provide maximum scoring potential, and fittingly will make its TV debut at this year’s World Masters.

Read the full press release … here. See the new Blade4 … here.

Jackpotjoy.com and Winmau extend World Masters partnership until 2013
The Winmau Dartboard Company is delighted to announce that it is extending its agreement with Jackpotjoy.com as official shirt-patch sponsors for the BBC televised Winmau World Masters.

Jackpotjoy.com began their role as official supporters of the World Masters in 2006, and the new agreement secures their relationship with Winmau until 2013.

“We are delighted with our new Winmau World Masters agreement, because it is one of many successful initiatives for Jackpotjoy.com this year”, says Lee Fenton, Chief Operating Officer.

“In April we completely re-designed our website, and more recently we have created considerable impact with the launch of our major TV and marketing campaign featuring the legendary Barbara Windsor.

“She is now being seen in newspaper advertisements and TV commercials all over the country – changing her role as ‘Queen of The Vic’ in BBC’s Eastenders to Jackpotjoy.com’s very own ‘ Queen of Bingo’.”

“Having the bubbly ‘Eastenders’ icon fronting our nationwide TV and marketing campaign is a major and hugely successful coup for Jackpotjoy.com. It also marks a significant turning point for us, because we have traditionally focused our marketing activities to online audiences.

“Jackpotjoy.com has also enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the World Masters because we have always considered our Jackpotjoy.com brand to be the perfect fit for the sport of darts and its players. With over 1.5 million unique users, we share all the fun, competitiveness and social interaction that goes with darts – from both a players and supporters perspective.”

The 16 players featured in the BBC televised 2010 Men’s Winmau World Masters finals on October 30th and 31st, including the top eight BDO Seeds – headed by reigning and double Winmau World Masters Champion MARTIN ADAMS (also the reigning Lakeside World Champion) will wear the Jackpotjoy.com patches on their playing shirts.

Ian Flack, Sales & Marketing Director of Winmau says: “We are delighted that Jackpotjoy.com have extended their agreement with us, because we value our strong and ongoing links with such a successful, supportive and major sponsor.”

The Winmau World Masters, in association with John Smith’s and East Yorkshire Events, will be played at The City Hall, Hull from Friday, October 29th to Sunday, October 31st with live and exclusive coverage from BBC Sport over the weekend of October 30th and 31st.

Taylor’s bid to win a tenth World Grand Prix title will kick off on the opening night of the £350,000 tournament when he faces Fermanagh’s Dolan in a repeat of their meeting in the first round last year.

The draw pits the winner of Taylor’s meeting with Dolan against Andy Smith or Jamie Caven in the second round on Wednesday October 6.

Number two seed Raymond van Barneveld, who has been the runner-up to Taylor for the past two years in Dublin, has drawn Northern Irish veteran John MaGowan in the first round.

World number three James Wade, the 2007 World Grand Prix champion, will face Balbriggan’s Mick McGowan, while debutant Irishman William O’Connor – from Cappamore in Limerick – drew Wales’ Barrie Bates.

Steve Farmer, who won Sunday’s Players Championship in Holland to dramatically claim a qualifying spot, will meet another World Grand Prix debutant in the first round after being drawn with Bristol’s Steve Brown.

Mervyn King and Terry Jenkins, the fourth and fifth seeds who form one quarter of the draw, face Wayne Jones and Vincent van der Voort in their openers in Ireland.

2004 champion Colin Lloyd meets Wes Newton, while number eight seed Ronnie Baxter drew Gary Anderson and Simon Whitlock – the number six seed for his World Grand Prix debut – was pitted against Australian rival Paul Nicholson.

Kevin Painter meets Mark Dudbridge in another tasty first round clash, with Adrian Lewis clashing with Alan Tabern, Denis Ovens taking on Mark Walsh, Colin Osborne playing Co Stompe and Dennis Priestley drawn with Andy Hamilton.

The £350,000 tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday October 10, with all the action screened live on Sky Sports HD.

Tickets for the Bodog.com World Grand Prix cost from €20 (plus booking fee) and can be purchased from www.ticketgroup.ie or via 00353 (0) 818 33 33 44.

Bodog.com World Grand Prix Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Brendan Dolan
Andy Smith v Jamie Caven
Ronnie Baxter (8) v Gary Anderson
Kevin Painter v Mark Dudbridge
Terry Jenkins (5) v Vincent van der Voort
Adrian Lewis v Alan Tabern
Mervyn King (4) v Wayne Jones
Steve Brown v Steve Farmer
Raymond van Barneveld (2) v John MaGowan
Denis Ovens v Mark Walsh
Colin Lloyd (7) v Wes Newton
William O’Connor v Barrie Bates
Simon Whitlock (6) v Paul Nicholson
Dennis Priestley v Andy Hamilton
James Wade (3) v Mick McGowan
Colin Osborne v Co Stompe

Bodog.com World Grand Prix Schedule of Play
Monday October 4
First Round
6.00pm Andy Smith v Jamie Caven
6.40pm Terry Jenkins v Vincent van der Voort
7.20pm Steve Brown v Steve Farmer
8.00pm Adrian Lewis v Alan Tabern
8.40pm Ronnie Baxter v Gary Anderson
9.20pm Phil Taylor v Brendan Dolan
10.00pm Kevin Painter v Mark Dudbridge
10.40pm Mervyn King v Wayne Jones

Tuesday October 5
First Round
6.00pm Dennis Priestley v Andy Hamilton
6.40pm Denis Ovens v Mark Walsh
7.20pm Colin Osborne v Co Stompe
8.00pm Colin Lloyd v Wes Newton
8.40pm James Wade v Mick McGowan
9.20pm Raymond van Barneveld v John MaGowan
10.00pm Simon Whitlock v Paul Nicholson
10.40pm William O’Connor v Barrie Bates

Wednesday October 6
Second Round
7.00pm King/Jones v Brown/Farmer
8.00pm Jenkins/van der Voort v Lewis/Tabern
9.00pm Taylor/Dolan v Smith/Caven
10.00pm Baxter/Anderson v Painter/Dudbridge

Thursday October 7
Second Round
7.00pm van Barneveld/MaGowan v Ovens/Walsh
8.00pm Whitlock/Nicholson v Priestley/Hamilton
9.00pm Wade/McGowan v Osborne/Stompe
10.00pm Lloyd/Newton v O’Connor/Bates

Friday October 8
Quarter-Finals
6.00pm Jenkins/van der Voort/Lewis/Tabern v King/Jones/Brown/Farmer
7.45pm van Barneveld/MaGowan/Ovens/Walsh v Lloyd/Newton/O’Connor/Bates
9.15pm Taylor/Dolan/Smith/Caven v Baxter/Anderson/Painter/Dudbridge
10.45pm Whitlock/Nicholson/Priestley/Hamilton v Wade/McGowan/Osborne/Stompe

Saturday October 9
Semi-Finals
7.00pm
9.00pm

Sunday October 10
Final
7.30pm
Preceded by Irish Matchplay Final, Michael Mansell v Stephen Byrne

Bodog.com World Grand Prix Format

All sets are the best of five legs.
All games are double-start and double-finish, meaning a player must first hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.
There will be no Tie Break rule employed.

PHIL TAYLOR will begin the defence of his StanJames.com World Matchplay title against Barrie Bates at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool next month.

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.

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.

Tickets for the StanJames.com World Matchplay remain on sale, although certain sessions have sold out. For full information or to purchase, visit the Tickets section of www.pdc.tv, visit the Winter Gardens Box Office or call 0844 856 1111.

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

American ace Mawson, whose family hail from Bolton, enjoyed the finest weekend of his darts career two years ago when he battled through to the final of the UK Open, defeating reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld along the way, before losing out to James Wade.

Mawson is one of 106 players who will take part in the Preliminary, First and Second Rounds at the Reebok Stadium when the four-day UK Open – nicknamed “The FA Cup of Darts” due to the free draw format for each round – begins on June 3, screened live on Sky Sports.

The Preliminary and First Rounds feature the players placed from 65-96 in the UK Open Order of Merit, following eight qualifying events, along with the 32 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers and ten BDO County Qualifiers.

Mawson has drawn Basildon-based Ashley Whisker – a 26-year-old tractor driver – in the Preliminary Round, with their match opening the tournament on the Main Stage, which is one of eight stages which will host simultanous action around the Reebok Stadium’s Premier Suite.

Chorley’s Louis Blundell meets former World Champion Richie Burnett in one of four First Round games to be played on the Main Stage, which also include the Roses battle between Lancashire’s Darren Latham and Yorkshire starlet Joe Cullen, Steve Hine’s clash with Northumberland’s Ian Gleeson and Leeds-based Rileys Qualifier Stuart Monaghan against Irish debutant William O’Connor.

Thursday’s opening night also features the Second Round games involving the players who finished from 33-64 in the UK Open Order of Merit, with popular star Wayne Mardle drawn against Ireland’s Mick McGowan on the Main Stage.

Former World Championship finalist Kirk Shepherd was drawn with Adrian Gray, while promising youngster Arron Monk – the son of experienced professional Colin Monk – faces Nick Fullwell and Paul Nicholson, the totesport.com Players Championship winner in January, will face either Peter Hudson, Paul Neate or Dave Smith.

Board two’s matches on the opening night include Manchester-based Rileys Qualifier Paul Whitworth up against Scotland’s Chris Loudon, last year’s quarter-finalist Mark Lawrence taking on Alex Roy and games involving former World Champion Steve Beaton, Kevin McDine and Mark Frost.

Jyhan Artut, the emerging German who knocked Mardle out of the World Championship last December, meets Kevin Dowling in a Preliminary Round contest on Board Three, while Bristol’s Steve Brown clashes with Welshman Wayne Atwood in the Second Round on Board Five.

Peter Manley, the former Las Vegas Desert Classic winner who recently returned to action after suffering a health scare, has drawn St Helens-based teenager Michael Smith, with their game on Board Six likely to draw plenty of attention and coming after Scotland’s Robert Thornton faces the winner of a clash between Rileys Qualifiers Mark Wilson and Paul Gibbs.

Roland Scholten, the 2004 UK Open champion, comes up against either Bradley Williams or Joe Palmer in the Second Round as he bids to repeat his success at the Reebok Stadium.

The top 32 players, including reigning UK Open champion Phil Taylor and 2008 winner James Wade, enter the event on Friday June 4 at the Third Round stage.

Tickets for the UK Open cost from £20 and are available by calling 0844 871 2932 or by visiting the Reebok Stadium Box Office.

2010 UK Open – Schedule of Play
Thursday June 3
Main Stage
Preliminary Round
Ashley Whisker v Gary Mawson
First Round
Louis Blundell v Richie Burnett
Darren Latham v Joe Cullen
Steve Hine v Ian Gleeson
Stuart Monaghan v William O’Connor
Second Round
Kirk Shepherd v Adrian Gray
Wayne Mardle v Mick McGowan
Nick Fullwell v Arron Monk
Hudson/Neate/Dave Smith v Paul Nicholson

Board Two
Preliminary Round
Andy Hutchings v Darren Webster
First Round
John Quantock v Matt Padgett
Chris Loudon v Paul Whitworth
Hudson/Neate v Dave Smith
Riihonen/Farmer v Dean Edlin
Second Round
Alex Roy v Mark Lawrence
Kevin McDine v Harrison/Green
Grant/R Evans v Steve Beaton
Monaghan/O’Connor v Mark Frost

Board Three
Preliminary Round
Kevin Dowling v Jyhan Artut
Dean Stewart v Dylan Duo
First Round
Darren Sullivan v Tony Hutchinson
Sam Allen v Melvyn Johnston
Bradley Williams v Joe Palmer
Ryan Murray v Lowe/J Clark
Second Round
Justin Pipe v Chris Thompson
Newland/Robertson v Dennis Smith
Eastwood/Martin v Whisker/Mawson/Stewart/Duo
Harris/Hutchings/D Webster v Andy Smith

Board Four
Preliminary Round
Prakash Jiwa v John Lakeman
First Round
Robbie Newland v John Robertson
Mark Wilson v Paul Gibbs
Dean Harris v Hutchings/D Webster
Dowling/Artut v A Murray/Rand
Second Round
Colin Monk v Darren Johnson
Mark Cox v Hammond/O’Neill
Blundell/Burnett v Pinhorne/Robinson/Ringland
R Murray/Lowe/J Clark v Quantock/Padgett

Board Five
Preliminary Round
Andy Murray v Scott Rand
Par Riihonen v Steve Farmer
First Round
Gary Eastwood v David Martin
Michael Hammond v Henry O’Neill
Dave Honey v Mike Nott
Jay Foreman v Barrie Knight
Second Round
Wayne Atwood v Steve Brown
S Jones/Bowles v Michael Barnard
Draper/M Harris v Bache/Turner
Murphy/Warwick v Riihonen/Farmer/Edlin

Board Six
Preliminary Round
Kevin Lowe v Jason Clark
First Round
Alex Harrison v Jamie Green
Noel Grant v Ricky Evans
Henry Murphy v Paul Warwick
Simon Cunningham v Jiwa/Lakeman
Second Round
Robert Thornton v Wilson/Gibbs
Michael Smith v Peter Manley
Hine/Gleeson v Allen/Johnston
Broughton/Stephenson v Dowling/Artut/A Murray/Rand

Board Seven
Preliminary Round
Reece Robinson v Hugh Ringland
First Round
Matt Draper v Mark Harris
Paul Rowley v Anton Liscsey
Nicky Bache v Martyn Turner
Whisker/Mawson v Stewart/Duo
Second Round
Fisher/Webb v Chris Mason
Sullivan/Hutchinson v Steve Evans
Honey/Nott v Latham/Cullen
Williams/Palmer v Roland Scholten

Board Eight
Preliminary Round
Peter Hudson v Paul Neate
First Round
Tony Broughton v Mark Stephenson
Pete Fisher v Barrie Webb
Simon Jones v John Bowles
Danny Pinhorne v Robinson/Ringland
Second Round
Tony Ayres v Loudon/Whitworth
Rowley/Liscsey v Barrie Bates
Stephen Hardy v Foreman/Wright
Stuart Dutton v Cunningham/Jiwa/Lakeman