RONNIE BAXTER returns to the Circus Tavern in Purfleet next week to battle for the coveted Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship title.

The Church star has a bye to the second round where he will meet either Mick Manning or Lee Palfreyman.

Manning has been on the PDC circuit for a number of years and he and Baxter have faced each other on a number of occasions. Baxter currently has the upper hand in the head to head and is likely to despatch Mick without too many problems.

Liverpool's Palfreyman however, is a different matter. The 25-year-old has made a major impression on the PDC circuit this year, climbing the world rankings at pace and only just missing out on an automatic qualifying place.

Undeterred, Lee battled his way through the play offs to clinch his place in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship. A player to watch out for in the future, Baxter will be unsure of the best way to tackle the confidence of the youngster and will be hoping that his years of experience in front of the television cameras will pull him through.

Baxter said: "Lee is an exciting young player with bags of talent who will be eager to make his mark but I believe that my skill and my experience will stand me in good stead."

The competition runs from December 27 - January 5 and will be screened live on Sky Sports.

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship First Round Draw:

Steve Brown (USA) v David Platt (Walsall)

Wayne Mardle (Dagenham) v Ray Carver (Baltimore, USA)

Shayne Burgess (Hastings) v Arjan Moen (Amsterdam, Holland)

Mark Holden (Manchester) v Dave Smith (Leeds)

Bob Anderson (Swindon) v Al Hedman (Essex)

Paul Williams (Bolton) v Simon Whitlock (Brisbane, Australia)

Mick Manning (Letchworth) v Lee Palfreyman (Liverpool)

Reg Harding (Lewes) v Mark Robinson (Derby)

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship Second Round Draw:

Phil Taylor (Stoke on Trent) v Brown/Platt

Peter Evison (West Drayton) v Mardle/Carver

Dennis Smith (Hungerford) v Dennis Priestley (Mexborough)

Denis Ovens (Stevenage) v Alex Roy (Watford)

Roland Scholten (Stamford) v Burgess/Moen

Dave Askew (Redhill) v Steve Beaton (Southam)

Alan Warriner (Lancaster) v Rod Harrington (Chelmsford)

John Lowe (Chesterfield) v Les Fitton (Lancashire)

John Part (Canada) v Cliff Lazarenko (Wellingborough)

Jamie Harvey (Renfrewshire) v Holden/Smith

Colin Lloyd (Witham) v Anderson/Hedman

Andy Jenkins (Portsmouth) v Chris Mason (Bristol)

Peter Manley (Carlisle) v Williams/Whitlock

Richie Burnett (Rhondda) v Keith Deller (Ipswich)

Ronnie Baxter (Church) v Manning/Palfreyman

Kevin Painter (March) v Harding/Robinson

- ENDS -

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship runs from 27th December 2002 -

5th January 2003 at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet live on Sky Sports.

Full Prize Fund Breakdown:

1st: £50,000

2nd: £25,000

3rd/4th: £12,500

5-8th: £7,000

9-16th: £5,000

17th-32nd: £3,000

33rd-40th: £2,500

For Further Information & Media Accreditation Contact:

Gayle Farmer Olly Seton

PDC Media and Communications Manager The GEM Group

M: 07786 262 818 M: 07776 234904

E: gayle.farmer@prodarts.com E: oseton@gemgroup.com

<mailto:oseton@gemgroup.com>

Olly Seton

The GEM Group (Europe)

DDI +44 1483 209848

Fax +44 1483 203600

Mobile +44 7776 234904

www.craigietaylor.co.uk or www.gemgroup.com