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The draw has been made for the 2013 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship, with the top 32 players in the world rankings being drawn against unseeded qualifiers for the £1 million tournament, which kicks off on December 14 at London’s Alexandra Palace.

World number three James Wade kicks off his campaign against World Championship debutant Peter Hudson.

Reigning European Champion Simon Whitlock and World Grand Prix winner Michael van Gerwen have both been handed first round ties against winners of preliminary round matches.

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld will take on Michael Smith, while UK Open winner Robert Thornton is up against Sweden’s Magnus Caris.

Paul Nicholson and Co Stompe will meet in the opening round, while Mark Webster faces Ian White.

Youth stars James Hubbard and Arron Monk have been drawn against Richie Burnett and Peter Wright respectively.

Andy Jenkins will face Justin Pipe on his return to Ally Pally after a two year absence, while Vincent van der Voort meets Stuart Kellet.

Mervyn King takes on Dean Winstanley in one of the picks of the first round draw.

First Round Draw & Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Michael Mansell
Wayne Jones (32) v Jerry Hendriks
Paul Nicholson (16) v Co Stompe
Robert Thornton (17) v Magnus Caris
Andy Hamilton (8) v James Richardson
Richie Burnett (25) v James Hubbard
Terry Jenkins (9) v Steve Brown
John Part (24) v Joe Cullen
Simon Whitlock (5) v Muramatsu/Harrington
Colin Osborne (28) v Ilagan/Lewis
Dave Chisnall (12) v Shane Tichowitsch
Andy Smith (21) v Gurney/Marijanovic
Gary Anderson (4) v Komula/Haavisto
Jamie Caven (29) v Rodriguez/Bowles
Raymond van Barneveld (13) v Michael Smith
Brendan Dolan (20) v Mark Jones
Adrian Lewis (2) v Gino Vos
Denis Ovens (31) v Hopp/Pietersen
Kevin Painter (15) v Welge/Chun Nam
Ronnie Baxter (18) v Dennis Priestley
Michael van Gerwen (7) v Lim/Latif Sapup
Peter Wright (26) v Arron Monk
Mark Webster (10) v Ian White
Colin Lloyd (23) v Darin Young
Wes Newton (6) v Johnny Haines
Kim Huybrechts (27) v Scott Rand
Justin Pipe (11) v Andy Jenkins
Mark Walsh (22) v Darren Webster
James Wade (3) v Peter Hudson
Steve Beaton (30) v Kyle Anderson
Mervyn King (14) v Dean Winstanley
Vincent van der Voort (19) v Stuart Kellett

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Simon Whitlock will face Phil Taylor in Sunday evening’s semi-finals after winning a classic battle with Gary Anderson at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.

Whitlock, who recently won his first PDC major title at the European Championship, remains on course for his second televised triumph after seeing off Anderson in a thrilling encounter on Sunday afternoon.

The Australian made an explosive start to the match, leading 6-1, before his Scottish opponent launched an incredible fightback but ‘The Wizard’ held his nerve to complete a 10-8 success.

“It was a fantastic match,” said Whitlock, whose win will send him above Anderson into the top four in the PDC Order of Merit.

“Gary is a brilliant player and he pushed me all the way. I was nervous on the winning double and I wobbled that one in to be honest.

“I’m looking forward to tonight and I’ll go away and prepare now.

“I don’t mind who I play. I’m happy concentrating on my own game.”

‘The Wizard’ took out 52 to grab an immediate break of throw before posting a lovely 100 checkout to double his lead.

He followed that up with checkouts of 90 and 41 as he raced into a 4-0 lead.

Anderson pulled a leg back but Whitlock restored his four leg advantage with the aid of his first 180.

The Australian ace pegged double four to move further ahead but Anderson took out 99 to break his throw for the first time.

The Scotsman reduced Whitlock’s lead to 6-3 but ‘The Wizard’ conjured up a brilliant eleven dart leg to move four legs clear once again.

Anderson took the eleventh leg before Whitlock’s second maximum helped him close in on a semi-final spot.

Anderson threatened a remarkable comeback as he reeled off three straight legs, which included checkouts of 112 and 136, but Whitlock pinned double nine to stem the tide.

A fanastic 10 darter pulled Anderson to within a leg of the European Champion at 9-8 before ‘The Wizard’ sealed the win on double four.

Whitlock will take on Taylor in the last four after ‘The Power’ came back from 9-5 behind to defeat Andy Hamilton.

The winner will then take on either Kim Huybrechts or Justin Pipe, who face each other in the other semi-final after seeing off Peter Wright and Mervyn King respectively.

By Chris Murphy

Simon Whitlock produced a sensational display of darts as he demolished Ronnie Baxter with a 10-1 victory to reach the last eight of the Players Championship Finals.

‘The Wizard’ entertained a delighted crowd at Butlins, Minehead as he put on an exhibition of heavy scoring and fantastic finishing in his second round triumph on Saturday evening.

Whitlock averaged almost 110 and hit a magnificent 170 checkout as he moved into the quarter-finals.

“That’s my best performance on TV,” said Whitlock, who recently won his first PDC major title, the European Championship.

“I’d lost to Ronnie a couple of times on TV so I was very focused.

“I’ve been playing very well the last few months and been very solid so I’m feeling good and confidence is high.

“Winning the first major was massive for me and my belief.

“I’ve been putting a lot of practise in and it’s making all the difference.”

‘The Wizard’ got off the mark on double top before pegging double twelve for a break of throw.

Whitlock pinned tops for another break and his first 180 helped him race into a 4-0 lead.

Baxter pulled a leg back but the Australian brilliantly produced back to back eleven dart finishes to go 6-1 in front.

The number two seed pinned double eight to move further ahead before a fabulous 122 checkout on the bull gave him another break of throw.

‘The Wizard’ then produced a moment a pure magic with a sensational 170 checkout, which moved him within a leg of victory.

He wrapped up a wonderful win, hitting double six to set up a quarter-final tie with Gary Anderson.

Mervyn King also won his second round match, defeating Steve Beaton 10-7.

King faces Justin Pipe in the quarter-finals.

Robert Thornton and Michael van Gerwen were denied last eight places, however.

Thornton lost out to Anderson in an all Scottish affair while van Gerwen slipped to a 10-8 defeat at the hands of Andy Hamitlon.

Sunday sees the conclusion of the 2013 Players Championship Finals, with the quarter-finals taking place in the afternoon session before the semi-finals and final are played out in the evening.

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Simon Whitlock, Michael van Gerwen and Robert Thornton all won through to the last 16 of the Players Championship finals with well-earned victories on Friday.

The trio, who have each won their first PDC major title this year, all moved a step closer to a second televised triumph with first round wins at Butlins, Minehead.

Whitlock won the last three legs of his contest against Jamie Caven to progress, finishing the match with a brilliant 111 checkout.

van Gerwen ended reigning champion Kevin Painter’s title defence with a 6-3 success, which included three 180s and a 123 finish from the in form Dutchman.

Thornton was particularly impressive as he swept past Mark Walsh with a 6-1 victory.

The Scotsman faces compatriot Gary Anderson in round two on Saturday afternoon.

Whitlock takes on Ronnie Baxter on Saturday evening, when van Gerwen will face Andy Hamilton for a place in the quarter-finals.

Paul Nicholson was unfortunate to miss out on a last 16 spot as ‘The Asset’ was edged out in a last leg decider by Baxter, while James Wade, Vincent van der Voort, Mark Webster and Raymond van Barneveld also suffered first round defeats.

Mervyn King came out on top in a tight encounter against Terry Jenkins, with ‘The King’ sneaking the last leg to set up a second round clash with van Barnveld’s conqueror Steve Beaton.

Saturday sees the second round action take place over two session before the tournament reaches its conclusion on Sunday.

By Chris Murphy

Simon Whitlock 6-3 Jamie Caven

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Kevin Painter

Robert Thornton 6-1 Mark Walsh

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

The draw bracket for the Players Championship Finals, which takes place next weekend in Minehead, has been confirmed after the 32 player field was finalised.

Simon Whitlock, the number two seed for the £250,000 tournament, faces Jamie Caven in the first round.

Third seed Michael van Gerwen, who has picked up seven Pro Tour titles in 2012, takes on defending champion Kevin Painter.

Recently crowned Grand Slam Champion Raymond van Barneveld meets Steve Beaton, while world number three James Wade is up against Brendan Dolan.

UK Open champion Robert Thornton will face Mark Walsh, while Mark Webster has been handed a tough first round tie against world number one Phil Taylor.

Paul Nicholson, who won the £60,000 title in 2010, takes on Ronnie Baxter in the opening round, where Vincent van der Voort will meet Kim Huybrechts and Mervyn King meets Terry Jenkins.

The 2012  Players Championship Finals take place at Butlins resort, Minehead from November 30 to December 2.

The schedule of play will be released in due course.

By Chris Murphy
2012 Players Championship Finals – First round draw and draw bracket

Dave Chisnall (1) v Wayne Jones (32)
Colin Lloyd (16) v Peter Wright (17)
Ian White (8) v Michael Smith (25)
Kim Huybrechts (9) v Vincent van der Voort (24)
Justin Pipe (5) v Colin Osborne (28)
James Wade (12) v Brendan Dolan (21)
Raymond van Barneveld (4) v Steve Beaton (29)
Terry Jenkins (13) v Mervyn King (20)
Simon Whitlock (2) v Jamie Caven (31)
Ronnie Baxter (15) v Paul Nicholson (18)
Wes Newton (7) v Gary Anderson (26)
Robert Thornton (10) v Mark Walsh (23)
Phil Taylor (6) v Mark Webster (27)
Adrian Lewis (11) v Richie Burnett (22)
Michael van Gerwen (3) v Kevin Painter (30)
Andy Hamilton (14) v Andy Smith (19)

Michael van Gerwen won his seventh Pro Tour title of 2012 in sensational style with a 6-5 victory over Phil Taylor in the final of Players Championship 20 in Barnsley on Sunday.

The Dutch star, who rises to number seven in the PDC Order of Merit following his latest triumph, hit finishes of 164 and 124 in the final two legs to come back from 5-4 down against the world number one.

‘Mighty Mike’, who also defeated reigning World Champion Adrian Lewis in the semi-finals, followed up last weeks Grand Slam of Darts quarter-final victory against Taylor with his first success over ‘The Power’ in a final.

“It was a fantastic game and we both played well,”  van Gerwen told the PDC’s official website. “Phil did some great finishing but at the end I hit two amazing big finishes and I’m very happy with that.

“It’s the first time for me where I’ve won a Pro Tour and beaten Phil in the tournament, so it gives me so much confidence. To beat Phil in the final and the World Champion in the semi-final means a lot to me. It was the most special win of the year.”

van Gerwen reached the semi-finals of Saturday’s event, as did in-form Scotsman Robert Thornton, who made it to the same stage on Sunday, losing out to Taylor on both occasions.

The weekend’s final Players Championship events of 2012 also saw Andy Jenkins seal his place in the upcoming Ladbrokes World Championships as one of the top 16 in the Pro Tour of Merit outside of the PDC Order of Merit’s top 32.

By Chris Murphy

Click here for a full report on Michael van Gerwen’s latest triumph on his official website.