Taylor opens against Monk

Phil Taylor's bid for a 15th world darts title gets under way later this month with a first-round meeting against Colin Monk.

'The Power' "not worried " but "slightly concerned" by draw

Phil Taylor's bid for a 15th world darts title gets under way later this month with a first-round meeting against Colin Monk in the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace. The world number one was drawn to play the experienced Monk on Monday afternoon ahead of darts' first ever £1 million tournament, which starts on December 18th. Speaking after the draw was made, Taylor told Sky Sports News: "I think any player you draw is going to be good anyway. I'm not worried as such but I'm slightly concerned because Colin's a good player, so I'm going to get myself ready." Qualifier Monk is twice a semi-finalist in the BDO Championship but has struggled since joining the PDC in 2004, losing in the first round in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Taylor's biggest rival, Raymond van Barneveld, opens his campaign against New Zealand's Warren Parry, while world number three James Wade plays Steve Brown. Three-time world champion John Part plays another Dutchman, Toon Greebe, while fifth seed Mervyn King, a semi-finalist last year, faces Matt Clark. According to Sky Sports' Sid Waddell, sixth seed Terry Jenkins faces the toughest first-round draw, with 'The Bull' up against Australian-domiciled Geordie Paul Nicholson. First-round draw: Alan Tabern v Ken Macneil or Norman Mahdoo
Adrian Lewis v Aorhagan O'Neill or Les Francis
Kirk Shepherd v Scott Burnett
Mark Dudbridge v Andree Welge
Colin Lloyd v Magnus Caris or Francisco Ruiz
Vincent van der Voort v Dylan Duo
Steve Beaton v Carlos Rodriguez
Kevin Painter v Mensur Suljovic
Mervyn King v Matt Clark
Phil Taylor v Colin Monk
Peter Manley v Andy Jenkins
Terry Jenkins v Paul Nicholson
John Part v Toon Greebe
Mark Walsh v Mark Webster
James Wade v Steve Brown
Wayne Mardle v Jyhan Artut
Robert Thornton v Per Lausen or Christian Perez
Andy Hamilton v Phillip Hazel or Osmann Kijamet
Tony Eccles v Brendan Dolan
Roland Scholten v Steve Hine
Jamie Caven v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
Raymond van Barneveld v Warren Parry
Denis Ovens v Tomas Seyler or Shi Yongsheng
Colin Osborne v Simon Whitlock
Ronnie Baxter v Haruki Muramatsu or Krzysztof Kciuk
Wes Newton v Jarkko Komula or Roman Konchikov
Jelle Klaasen v Barrie Bates
Wayne Jones v Alex Roy
Dennis Preistley v Kevin McDine
Co Stompe v Steve Maish
Andy Smith v Darin Young