 Taylor is looking for a 14th world title |
Phil Taylor will start the defence of his PDC World Darts Championship against Austrian qualifier Anton Pein at the Circus Tavern on 18 December. Taylor is seeking a 14th world title and faces a stiff challenge from world number one Colin Lloyd and Raymond van Barneveld, who could meet in round two.
The Dutchman is making his first appearance in Purfleet after joining the PDC earlier this year.
His first opponent is 16-year-old Australian qualifier Mitchell Clegg.
Elsewhere in the first round, American number one John Kuczynski faces 2005 finalist Mark Dudbridge and Kevin Painter takes on Colin Osborne, who came through the qualifying rounds.
Former champions Eric Bristow, John Lowe and Keith Deller all failed to qualify.
Bristow's conqueror Dennis Smith is the highest-ranked player in the world to have failed to reach the finals.
Having beaten Bristow in an earlier round, the world number 33 was defeated by Alan Green in a play-off, ending a run of 12 successive appearances at the Circus Tavern.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship DrawColin Lloyd (1) v Tomas Seyler (Ger)
Raymond van Barneveld (32, Ned) v Mitchell Clegg (Aus)
Mark Walsh (16) v Rico Vonck (Ned)
Barrie Bates (17 Wal) v Brian Cyr (Can)
Wayne Mardle (8) v Alan Caves
Dave Askew (25) v Martin Burchell
Denis Ovens (9) v Steve Smith
Alan Warriner-Little (24) v Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis (5) v Anthony Fleet (Aus)
Wayne Jones (28) v Ian Branks
Andy Jenkins (12) v Bill Davis (USA)
Andy Smith (21) v Shi Yongsheng (Chi)
Roland Scholten (4) v Ron Miller (Can)
Alex Roy (29) v Richie Burnett (Wal)
Kevin Painter (13) v Colin Osborne
Wes Newton (20) v Tetsuya Wada (Jpn)
Phil Taylor (2) v Anton Pein (Aut)
Matt Clark (31) v Mick McGowan (Irl)
Chris Mason (15) v Wayne Atwood (Wal)
John Part (18 Can) v Alan Green
Peter Manley (7) v Dave Jowett
Steve Maish (26) v Wynand Havenga (SA)
Ronnie Baxter (10) v Adrian Gray
Bob Anderson (23) v Darren Webster
Terry Jenkins (6) v Mark Lawrence
Steve Beaton (27) v Gerry Convery (Can)
James Wade (11) v Warren French (NZ)
Lionel Sams (22) v Dave Ladley
Dennis Priestley (3) v Josephus Schenk (Ned)
Colin Monk (30) v Per Laursen (Den)
Mark Dudbridge (14) v John Kucynski (USA)
Andy Hamilton (19) v Gary Welding
(English unless stated - seeding in brackets)
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