A star-studded opening night will raise the curtain on the 2012 World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with Adrian Lewis, Raymond van Barneveld and Paul Nicholson in action.
Darts' second most prestigious tournament heads to the breath-taking Winter Gardens venue for the 19th time and will be graced by arguably its most competitive field to date.
The first of nine days of tungsten tension kicks off with bad boy Paul Nicholson taking on the likeable 'Pie Man' Andy Smith.
Former finalist Terry Jenkins then faces Belgium's rising star Kim Huybrechts, before World Champion Adrian Lewis takes on newly crowned UK Open champion Robert Thornton in the pick of the ties.
In-form five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld is also in action on opening night as he entertains confident young gun Michael Smith.
Phil Taylor will begin the defence of his crown against old foe Mervyn King in a highly anticipated encounter on Monday night, while 2011 runner-up James Wade hosts resurgent Welshman Richie Burnett on day two.
Taylor, who has been champion for the past four years, is bidding to equal his unbeaten run from 2000-2004 when he returns to Blackpool on the 10th anniversary of the first ever televised PDC nine darter which he achieved against Chris Mason back in 2002.
The fourth and final night of first round action features three of the game's hottest floor players - Dave Chisnall, Justin Pipe and local star Wes Newton, alongside Gary Anderson who returns to action following a recent eye injury.
The second round follows from Wednesday through to Thursday evening, with the first afternoon session being held on Friday July 27 when the Quarter-Finals will commence.
Both Semi-Finals will be played on the second Saturday, with the final staged on the evening of Sunday July 29 where the champion will be crowned.
The £400,000 summer showpiece event runs from July 21-29 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with the entire event being streamed live.
Betfair World Matchplay Schedule of Play
First Round
Saturday July 21
7.10pm Paul Nicholson v Andy Smith
8.00pm Terry Jenkins v Kim Huybrechts
9.00pm Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton
10.00pm Raymond van Barneveld v Michael Smith
Sunday July 22
7.10pm Mark Walsh v Colin Osborne
8.00pm Kevin Painter v Steve Beaton
9.00pm James Wade v Richie Burnett
10.00pm Simon Whitlock v Michael van Gerwen
Monday July 23
7.10pm Andy Hamilton v Brendan Dolan
8.00pm Vincent van der Voort v Ian White
9.00pm Phil Taylor v Mervyn King
10.00pm Mark Webster v Colin Lloyd
Tuesday July 24
7.10pm Justin Pipe v Joe Cullen
8.00pm Wes Newton v James Hubbard
9.00pm Gary Anderson v Dean Winstanley
10.00pm Dave Chisnall v Ronnie Baxter
Second Round
Wednesday July 25
7.10pm Whitlock/van Gerwen v Painter/Beaton
8.20pm Wade/Burnett v Walsh/Osborne
9.30pm van Barneveld/M Smith v Jenkins/Huybrechts
10.40pm Lewis/Thornton v Nicholson/A Smith
Thursday July 26
7.10pm Hamilton/Dolan v Webster/Lloyd
8.20pm Newton/Hubbard v Pipe/Cullen
9.30pm Taylor/King v van der Voort/White
10.40pm Anderson/Winstanley v Chisnall/Baxter
Quarter-Finals
Friday July 27
Afternoon Session
1.10pm
3.00pm
Evening Session
7.10pm
9.00pm
Semi-Finals
Saturday July 28
7.10pm
9.00pm
Final
Sunday July 29
7.10pm
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Second Round - Best of 25 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 33 legs
Final - Best of 35 legs
