Numbers in brackets indicate current 64 ranking

Byes to round 3:

(1) Michael van Gerwen
(2) Gary Anderson
(3) Adrian Lewis
(4) Phil Taylor
(5) Peter Wright
(7) James Wade
(8) Michael Smith
(9) Jelle Klaasen
(10) Raymond van Barneveld
(11) Dave Chisnall
(12) Kim Huybrechts
(13) Ian White
(14) Mensur Suljovic
(15) Vincent van der Voort
(16) Terry Jenkins
(17) Stephen Bunting
(18) Mervyn King
(19) Simon Whitlock
(20) Benito van de Pas
(21) Mark Webster
(23) Justin Pipe
(25) Steve Beaton
(26) Daryl Gurney
(27) Alan Norris
(28) Gerwyn Price
(29) Jamie Lewis
(31) John Henderson
(33) Andy Hamilton
(37) Kyle Anderson
(46) Joe Cullen
(47) Ricky Evans
(69) Rene Eidams

Round 1/2 matchups, ordered by highest ranked player in terms of 64 rankings:

(6) Robert Thornton v (206) Arron Monk or (NR, Q) Stewart Rattray
Thornton ought to win this comfortably, but if he throws the sort of crap he has been doing, who knows? Monk's been on a downward spiral of form, doing basically nothing since his first round worlds exit in 2014, so he probably doesn't want to face a veteran like Rattray, who cashed in this in 2005, has been playing for 20 years, although he's a bit behind his peak in 2010 when he cashed the World Masters and won the Scottish national title.
(22) Brendan Dolan v (NR, Q) Steven Rose or (NR, Q) Scott Marsh
Lay-up for Dolan really, Rose has played a few decent BDO events but not really done much, while Marsh has some ok results in recent history, winning two four figure opens in 2013, as well as making the quarters of a decent sized soft tip event in France that attracted the likes of Klaasen amongst the usual soft tip crowd.
(24) Jamie Caven v (84) Johnny Haines or (105) Gary Stone
May be a tricky tie for Caven here, Haines is an experienced tour card holder who made the worlds in 2013, while Stone lost his tour card last year after adapting to the PDC too late, but has played Lakeside twice. Fancy Jamie to advance but it's not a gimmie.
(30) Andrew Gilding v (89) Nathan Derry or (95) Ryan de Vreede
Gilding isn't in the same form he was this time last year, but at least cashed 5/6 qualifiers. Derry's looking to creep into the top 64, which he needs to retain a tour card beyond this year, and will need to repeat his last 32 run from last year really where he smashed Keegan Brown and nearly edged out King. de Vreede's in and out of various codes having played Ally Pally in 2015 and Lakeside this year, he made it in through the qualifiers with the same cash as Derry, so this should be close but I think Gilding advances to the money.
(34) Kevin Painter v (38) Dean Winstanley or (246, Q) John Scott
Painter and Winstanley could be an interesting game, with both being somewhat out of form, Painter probably being a bit better - Scott came through the pub qualifiers but has played the challenge tour and tried Q-School in 2015, and did make one of the Euro Tour events last year. Don't think he troubles Dean, and I think Painter edges a close one.
(35) Rowby John Rodriguez v (100) Lee Evans
Evans doesn't have a tour card, but has quietly reached three last 16's on tour, one in Europe where he knocked out Terry Jenkins, and he only missed out on round 3 direct qualification on countback, so he should be a tough test for Rowby, who demonstrated his inconsistency by hitting the quarters in the first qualifier and doing nothing since then. Think Evans has a chance of an upset, having beat a comparable player in Ronny Huybrechts to cash last year he shouldn't fear anything.
(36) Wes Newton or (239, Q) Mark Cox v (109) Ken MacNeil or (NR, Q) Rob Cross
Newton's playing AIDS but should have enough for Cox, who's cashed here twice and just about got into my top 100 before dropping off the tour last year and qualifying through Rileys. Ken is probably a better player than his rankings suggest given his location limits how much he can play, and should beat Cross who was one game off the money in the World Masters last year, losing 3-2 to Labanauskas. Think MacNeil could be live in round 2 if he makes it.
(39) Joe Murnan or (NR, Q) Paul Whitworth v (148) Ritchie Edhouse
Murnan only just crept into this with a last event last 32 performance, nearly going further as he only lost 6-5 to Wright. It'd be a derby against Whitworth, the Salford based veteran who played in the 2002 Matchplay losing to Denis Ovens, and has played this three times dating back to the very first one. Edhouse didn't make it at Q-School, but is quickly off to a decent start this year, netting 1.5k in 3 qualifiers and making the last 16 in Venray earlier this month (aided by Thornton's withdrawal though). Beating Jenkins and van de Pas in the qualifiers is no joke though. May be a tough ask for Murnan this.
(41) Darren Webster or (NR, Q) Lee Morris v (169) Scott Dale
Important year for Webster if he wants to push on into the top 32, and he's got chances here, although he took his time to qualify. Dale had an OK Q-School without winning a card, and is here through a last 16 and last 32 performance, with a standout 6-1 win over VVDV. Morris is unknown, with just the pub qualifier on his record, and made it through the Leicester qualifier. Think Dale wins and is possibly live, probably being a good bet.
(42) Cristo Reyes v (55) Jan Dekker or (NR, Q) Andrew Davidson
Reyes and Dekker speak for themselves and should offer up a good match, Reyes probably being the slight favourite. Davidson played the development tour last year, making the money more than half the time he played, and also had a good run in the Scottish Classic last year, only just losing in the quarters to eventual winner Razma, and had a win over Lakeside quarter finalist Dennis Harbour in an earlier round. Dekker's probably too good for him but will keep an eye out if it's a big price.
(43) David Pallett v (157) Jason Marriott
Marriott had the best run of his career to make the last 16 of the first qualifier after drakking around the various minor PDC tours, a run including wins over Nicholson, Winstanley, O'Connor and Dudbridge, although in that event Pallett made the quarters, so it's not that big of a deal and it should be a comfortable win for Dave.
(44) Ronny Huybrechts or (NR, Q) Mark Rice v (111) Jay Foreman
Should be an easy start for Ronny, whose opponent's only cash was in the 2011 British Open, where he beat Fitton before losing to Gilding. Foreman's done really well in qualification, four cashes seeing him back here for another year. He's won on the Challenge Tour in the past, but I think Ronny's experience will be just enough.
(48) Dirk van Duijvenbode or (NR, Q) Michael McFall v (147) Pete Hudson
DVD should advance over McFall, who played some of the Challenge Tour in 2013 but hasn't done much since. Hudson may be a different proposition, who's previously played the worlds and made it last year as a pub qualifier before coming back to the PDC this season, and he made it with a quarter final appearance, including a win over one Dirk van Duijvenbode.
(49) Jeffrey de Zwaan v (128) Dennis Smith or (229, Q) Alex Roy
Old vs new here, de Zwaan can compete with anyone, and should be too good for either opponent in what reads like a first round World Championship match from 2002. Roy's not been on the tour for a few years now but should still have enough to give Smith a game, who's not really done much of anything over the last twelve months, with a huge string of first round exits. Roy to advance and then lose for me.
(52) Andy Smith or (59) Jermaine Wattimena v (178) Kevin Dowling or (236) Dick van Dijk
Close game the first one in terms of rankings, although they're heading in opposite directions, it's a make or break year for Smith really after failing to make the worlds and only made it thanks to a fairly favourable draw. Jermaine needed to do work on the last day but made it, and ought to be a tiny favourite. Dowling's been around forever, last appearing here in 2014 when he lost 9-8 in the first money round to Bunting and also previously got knocked out by Taylor, while van Dijk is also somewhat of a veteran, although well off his peak from ten years ago when he won the World Cup. Wouldn't be surprised to see any of these advance.
(53) Andy Boulton or (NR, Q) Lee Grimshaw v (216) Jonathan Worsley or (NR, Q) Curtis Turner
Favourable draw for Boulton here. Worsley did win a tour card last month but is basically a career jobber, Grimshaw tried Q-School in 2014, didn't get out of the last 128 on any day and has zero prize money, while Turner's learning his game still, having been young enough to play the PDC world youth in 2014.
(56) Wayne Jones v (73) Andy Jenkins
Both will be thinking they can win this, Jones is ranked slightly higher, did slightly better in qualifying and is probably still the better player, but Jenkins has been around for just as long and will give everything. Not a bad game, shame it's buried on board 4.
(57) Willie O'Connor or (NR, Q) Mark Jodrill v (163) Jeffrey de Graaf
Jodrill played the tour a few years back with no real success, and played this once before in 2009 with no success. O'Connor should be way too strong and be a good test for de Graaf, who will want to kick off his first PDC major with a cash.
(60) Robbie Green v (186) Jordi Meeuwisse
Kong is now in the top 64, and peak Kong can push anyone. His qualification was steady, no big scores but never in danger of missing out. Meeuwisse made it on the back of a last 16 run where he beat Peter Wright, not a bad scalp. Think Kong should be a small favourite.
(65) Josh Payne or (NR, Q) Dave Parletti v (159) Alan Tabern or (221) Harry Ward
Payne had some goot form late last year, hitting six four figure scores in the latter half of the year but hasn't kicked on, but should beat Parletti, who makes it here as a pub qualifier for a second year, last year losing to another pub qualifier. Tabern we all know, who after a good 2014 to get a tour card has had a weak 2015 to likely lose it next year, while Ward is a youngster who lost the 2015 BDO world youth final. Payne to move on unless Tabern can roll back the years.
(66) Stuart Kellett v (74) Mick McGowan or (97) Nathan Aspinall
Intriguing combination of players, with Aspinall, the World Youth finalist who scraped in, against McGowan, who played the last worlds after winning the Tom Kirby but didn't do that much better in qualifying, with the winner to play Kellett, who's in a make or break year after playing like arse the last 12 months and only just did enough to get a first round bye. Think Kellett can be taken by either of the other two, depends how Aspinall can rebound from his close world final defeat really.
(67) James Wilson v (70) Johnny Clayton or (NR, Q) Ian McFarlane
McFarlane's been playing the Challenge Tour for some years, and passed Q-School this year and made it through the pub qualifiers. Wilson's the class act but hasn't hit the PDC quite as well as he might have done, but is still doing enough to get close to the top 60, although Clayton's right on his heels and did make the Grand Slam. Clayton should be fine in round 1 and have a close game with Wilson, who ought to be a tiny favourite.
(76) Mark Barilli or (NR, Q) Darren Layden v (115) Mark Frost or (NR, Q) Andy Brown
Layden tried Q-School in 2015 and got nowhere, doesn't seem too great, while Brown's back after a few years in the wilderness, playing here in 2012 but running into Peter Wright a round before the money. Don't think either should threaten Frost or Barilli, Barilli looking the safer first round bet and likely being too good for Frost, and they both need a score, Frost to have a chance of holding his card beyond next year, Barilli to rebuild after losing it over the winter break.
(83) Magnus Caris or (NR, Q) Jason Mold v (129, Q) Jason Hogg or (NR, Q) Ben Green
Qualifier-tastic here. Hogg is probably the best known having cashed here twice when still on the PDC tour and winning through to Ally Pally in the PDPA qualifier in 2015. Mold is here for a third straight year from the pub qualifiers, winning two games 5-4 to make the money before losing 9-0 to Newton. Green is farily unknown, although he did make the semis of the BDO Gold Cup last year, whatever one of those is. Caris should be able to take advantage of a good draw, he locked his spot early and was close to beating Whitlock when he made the last 32.
(87) Tony Newell v (187, Q) Paul Hogan or (NR, Q) Daniel Day
Hogan's a UK Open legend, having made the last 32 in the last two years from pub qualifiers and remaining dangerous on the open scene. Day is not a complete random, having made the money in some PDC floor events back in 2012, but since a challenge tour final in 2013 he's done little. Newell was solid in qualifying with five cashes, and his game with Hogan should be evenly matched, so naturally it's buried on board 8.
(93) Mark Dudbridge v (121) Joey ten Berge
Dudbridge is having a bit of a resurgence, having hit a nine in qualification which was achieved with relative ease, not needing any money from the second weekend. ten Berge didn't qualify quite as well, but was safe enough, and has some pedigree although mostly in the BDO and msotly from a few years ago, his PDC stint not really taking off as he would like. Flash has the edge here I think.
(96) Matt Clark v (107) Mike de Decker
Close one in the rankings, Clark being a veteran of some 20+ years who made the last 32 of here and the worlds 10 years ago, as well as a Lakeside quarter last century. He qualified based on one last 16 run, edging out Jenkins being the key result. de Decker is at the other end of his career, having played the first Euro Tour event already this season and also qualified through a last 16 run, leaving it late but getting there, ending the hopes of Nicholson and winning the silly name derby against Jan Dekker before losing to Phil. Youth versus experience, coin flip for me.
(104) Matt Edgar v (NR, Q) Les Delderfield or (NR, Q) Mark Wilson
Edgar seems to have been around for a while despite only being 29, he made the last 32 in 2011. He could do with a run to help retain his card beyond this year, which looks questionable right now, and this is a good chance - Delderfield is old enough to have played in the World Masters when Taylor still played in it, while Wilson is also experienced but not to Les's level, and previously qualified from the pub route in 2010. Edgar should be good enough for either of them.
(124) Paul Milford or (NR, Q) Chris Jones v (314, Q) Steve Maish or (NR, Q) Jason Heaver
Milford is in the second year of a card and hasn't done much, most of his winnings coming from first round European defeats. Jones played here before, nearly making the money but lost a deciding leg to Co Stompe. I've seen worse punts. Maish's best is behind him, he's not done much even on the challenge tour recently, but should have enough against Heaver, who doesn't seem like a complete mug looking at his run in last year's English nationals, where he made the semis. Wide open section.
(127) Ryan Harrington or (NR, Q) Glen McGrandle v (197) Darron Brown
Rod's lad is playing more or less a complete random from Scotland, and Ryan should be good enough for that one having got a decent win on stage in Venray a week or two ago. Brown blanked the first five qualifiers before coming from nowhere to make the last 16 in the final event, beating Jamie Lewis before winning deciders against Wayne Jones and Robbie Green. He did enough to win a tour card last month so must be playing OK, but Ryan may actually be more experienced in pressure events at this stage.
(145) Brett Claydon v (245, Q) Dean Stewart or (NR, Q) Barry Lynn
Claydon has a win on the challenge tour, and qualified last year losing easily to ten Berge, and made it here by reaching one last 16, with a good win over Klaasen in there. Lynn has played some PDC fairly recently and did make one of the European events in 2014, losing to Hamilton without winning a leg, while Stewart is here for a seventh year, looking for a third cash. Think either of these qualifiers might have enough to give Claydon trouble.
(185) Berry van Peer v (210) Richie Corner
Finally two people qualifying through the PDC who hit peaks to do so, van Peer making a quarter out of nowhere thanks mostly to a very favourable draw, the only decent opponent being VVDV in the last 16, while Corner hit a nine dart finish in the last qualifier to help solidify a first round bye. Corner is vastly more experienced which I think will make the difference here.