Two-time defending champion Rod Harrington has a tough first round draw for the PDC World Matchplay.

Fourth in the world rankings, Rod is set to face Dutchman, Roland Scholten in the last week of July - a man who has a multitude of titles under his belt.

These include the 1995 British Open, the 1997 Dutch Championship as well as six appearances in the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship.

The two players met in November 1999 at the Skol Head to Head at the Wembley Conference Centre before Phil Taylor destroyed Embassy World Champion Ray Barneveld.

Harrington, from Boreham, near Chelmsford, staged a remarkable comeback after a slow start to defeat Scholten 8-6, leaving the Dutchman to reflect on how he buckled under the pressure and as a result watched his victory slip away.

Harrington was the first man to retain the World Matchplay crown in 1999 with his victory over Peter Manley in a dramatic and truly compelling final where both men fought a battle not just against each other but the 120 degree heat on stage.

Rod will be defending his title at the 2000 PDC World Matchplay but faces stiff competition from the other 31 top guns of the professional darts world, including eight times World Champion Phil Taylor.

The PDC World Matchplay is universally recognised as one of the highlights in the international darts calendar and as a result attracts over 2,000 people each day to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool to watch the arrows fly.

The tournament begins on July 23 with the grand final being on July 29.

Tickets are available at the Winter Gardens Box Office on 01253 292029 starting at £4 for the early sessions.

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