The number 9 seed Robert Thornton will face World Championship debutante Andrew Gilding in the first round. These two have only met twice in the past with 'The Thorn' winning on both occasions in a short first to six legs format.
Gilding's form has not been spectacular lately, he defeated Jelle Klaasen 6-0 in a Grand Slam qualifying match in November but hasn't done much since then losing to the likes of Mervyn King, Vincent van der Voort, Steve Beaton and Matt Edgar.
Robert Thornton was unlucky to be eliminated in the Players Championship at the last 16 stage by Jamie Caven last weekend after coming back from 9-5 down to make it 9-9 in a first to 10 legs match but Caven held his nerve and took the match on the bull. The Scotsman's recent form has been decent winning against the likes of Darren Webster, van der Voort and Rowby-John Rodriguez and it would be a surprise to see him being eliminated in the early stages of the tournament with either Ronnie Baxter, Daryl Gurney or Scott Mackenzie waiting in the second round.
Arguably the best match of the first round is between Jelle Klaasen and Christian Kist. Both are in a good run of form and the match promises to be outstanding. Kist recently made it to the last 16 at the Grand Slam of Darts and the last 16 in a 128 player Pro Tour event. His most recent to match was in the Players Championship Finals second round where he lost to eventual winner Gary Anderson and if truth be told, he was unlucky not to win.
Klassen made it to the last 16 of the Players Championship losing to Dead Winstanly, but he produced one of the best performances of the weekend against an in-form James Wade winning 6-4 in the first round where he averaged 108.7 and had a 75% checkout rate. If he can reproduce that form then he will be hard to beat. Klaasen also had an impressive European Championship where he made it to the Quarter Final stage eliminating Adrian Lewis and Jamie Caven in the first two rounds before losing out to eventual finalist Mervyn King.
The two Dutchmen have met once this year where Kist triumphed 6-5, but this match will be decided on who can hold their nerve on the biggest stage.
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