James Wade will start the defence of his UK Open crown on the opening night at the Reebok next month.
The Unicorn star enters the event in the 2nd Round and will face either former Bolton quarter-finalist Mark Lawrence/Jamie Robinson/Glenn Durrant or a qualifier.
It will be a tough night, because all the games across the preliminary, 1st and 2nd Rounds are the best of only 7 legs!
Wade was forced to play on the opening night last year, but it certainly didn’t do him any harm as he swept to victory over Wes Newton in the final.
Also in that 2nd Round, Devon Petersen takes on Andrew Gilding....and Colin Osborne plays either a qualifier, John Henderson, Joey Palfreyman or Tom Gregory.
Arron Monk must play in the preliminary round against Paul Boulton....victory would set up a 1st Round clash against either Shropshire youngster David Pallett or Dutchman Jerry Hendriks.....and if he gets through that, the Unicorn youngster will play either Steve Maish, Dave Solly or Adam Hunt in round two.
Paul Nicholson’s Bolton journey kicks-off in the 1st Round against Andy Melling or a qualifier and a win would see him face either Glen Miller, Mark Frost, Tony Cooper or a qualifier in the 2nd Round.
The top 32 seeds enter the fray on Friday night at the Reebok.
Team Unicorn occupy the top four seedings – Raymond van Barneveld, Wes Newton, Phil Taylor and Terry Jenkins.
Andy Hamilton is seeded 10th, Kevin Painter is No.20, Jamie Caven No.21 and Joe Cullen 22nd, with Gary Anderson 30th
The tournament takes place at the Reebok Stadium from June 7-10
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC