ST HELENS sharp-shooter Alan Tabern faces Andy Hamilton in the first round of the totesport.com Players Championship on Thursday, January 28.

Their game will be played among eight first round clashes on the opening night of the ITV4-televised Players Championship.

Ranked 13th in the competition, Tabern will play the winners of fourth ranked Adrian Lewis and Brendan Dolan if he progresses through to the second round.

Another highlight of the day will see World number one Phil Taylor, the reigning champion in the £250,000 event, take on long-time rival Peter Manley at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet. That is a repeat of three World Championship finals the pair contested at the famous venue.

The first round will conclude with a further eight matches on Friday January 29, including world number two James Wade's clash with Mervyn King.

Play continues with the second round staged across two sessions on Saturday January 30, with the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon, and the semi-finals and final played on Sunday evening.

The tournament has received two boosts, with the announcement of totesport.com as title sponsors accompanied by the news that the Professional Darts Players Association have donated £50,000 to increase the prize fund to £250,000.

Totesport.com Players Championship: First Round Draw: Phil Taylor (1) v Peter Manley (32), Mark Walsh (2) v Steve Hine (31), Colin Osborne (3) v Co Stompe (30), Adrian Lewis (4) v Brendan Dolan (29), Steve Beaton (5) v Tony Eccles (28), Wes Newton (6) v Peter Wright (27), Gary Anderson (7) v Jelle Klaasen (26), Colin Lloyd (8) v Denis Ovens (25), Robert Thornton (9) v Kevin Painter (24), James Wade (10) v Mervyn King (23), Ronnie Baxter (11) v Mark Dudbridge (22), Dennis Priestley (12) v Paul Nicholson (21), Alan Tabern (13) v Andy Hamilton (20), Jamie Caven (14) v Michael van Gerwen (19), Wayne Jones (15) v Andy Smith (18), Terry Jenkins (16) v Vincent van der Voort (17).