DUTCH pair Vincent van der Voort and Michael van Gerwen have been drawn with John Kuczynski and Kevin McDine in the first round of the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open.
The £125,000 tournament begins on Friday May 16 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut, with the 258-player field being whittled down to the last 16 on day one before the action shifts to the televised stage in the Cabaret Theatre.
The last 16 will be screened live on NutsTV on Saturday May 17 from 7pm-12pm (BST), with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final screened on Sunday May 18 from 7pm-12pm (BST).
The leading players will have to win four matches on Friday to book their place in the last 16, with Wayne Mardle facing a tough opener against top Boston player Tom Curtin, who qualified for the 2006 World Series of Darts.
The tie of the first round sees two of the sport's best young talents meet, with unseeded duo Kevin McDine and Michael van Gerwen paired on board 31.
Another Dutch star, Vincent van der Voort, faces top American John Kuczynski in a high-profile contest, while Ray Carver - currently the highest-ranked US player in the PDC Order of Merit - opens against Canadian Jim Snook.
Van Gerwen's fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen opens up against another former World Series of Darts qualifier, Tim Grossman, while world number one Raymond van Barneveld faces Ohio's Christopher Russano.
Phil Taylor opens the defence of his PDC US Open title against New Hampshire's Robert St Onge.
Many top names from the north American circuit have entered, including 1994 World Matchplay champion Larry Butler - who takes on Chris Thompson - Paul Lim, Steve Brown, Sean Downs and Scott Cummings.
Terry Jenkins kicks off against top Canadian Rory Orvis, who competed in the 2004 PDC World Championship, while current World Champion John Part meets Tom Waterman in his opener.
Tickets are still available for the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open - click here for full details: http://www.mohegansun.com/entertainment/schedule_of_events.jsp?vid=CGDUAN002.
The PartyPoker.net PDC US Open will begin at 2pm (local time) on Friday May 16, with all games the best of five sets, best of three legs per set.
Watch the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open, with the last 16 onwards screened on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May live on NutsTV (Sky Guide 207 & Freeview 42)
