UK Open 2024 Preview

The unconventional multi-board tournament format returns on Friday, March 1st, when current Tour Card holders, Riley Amateurs Qualifiers, the best players from the PDC Winmau Challenge Tour, and Development Tour, those in the orders of Merit compete over three days for the prestigious UK Open title and £110,000.

Ones To Watch – Round 1

The Opening Round will comprise of sixteen amateur players who advanced from the pre-tournament qualification round, eight Challenge Tour qualifiers, eight Development Tour qualifiers, and tour card holders ranked between 97th-128th.

There are several names to keep a watch on in the first round, including Jelle Klaasen, a 2016 semi-finalist, who returns to the PDC circuit after passing through the European qualifying school in January. He competes against Haupai Puha, the first New Zealander to get a Tour Card last month.

Bradley Brooks, a former Junior Darts Open champion, will face Cam Crabtree, a highly rated and recent Challenge Tour winner, in the first round of the UK Open.

The opening round match, between Scotland’s former World Cup winner and newly crowned World Seniors Champion, John Henderson, who makes his long-awaited return, and Northern Ireland’s Kevin Burness, is expected to be the most anticipated in this years’ UK Open.

Progressing into Round 2

The fortunate 32 to progress into Round Two, will them be joined by those Tour Card holders ranked between 65th to 96th.

The former World Youth Champion Arron Monk takes on young upcoming talent, Dylan Slevin for a spot in the third stage, while the Dutch duo of Berry Van Peer and Main Kuivenhoven will clash for their place in Round three.

Round 3 Round-Up

Along with players that advanced from Round Two, tour card holders ranked 33rd to 64th will compete, and it wouldn’t be a PDC event without a cameo from Steve Beaton, who will face either Josh Payne, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, or Ron Meulenkamp.

The Wizard, Simon Whitlock, is also competing for a spot in Round 4, where he will face Van Peer or Kuivenhoven, while Adam Gawlas will hope to recreate his form from last year’s competition when he returns to Minehead.

William O’Connor, a past semi-finalist, will face Mensur Suljovic, a former two-time quarter-finalist, in what promises to be another exciting match.

Round Four – The ‘Big Boys’ enter

The so-called ‘Big Boys’ join in the fourth round, looking to kickstart their championship chances; Andrew Gliding, the current UK Open champion, enters at this point. Along with current Number One Luke Humphries and the Warrington Wonderkid, Luke Littler.

Former titleholders Michael van Gerwen (who is undoubtedly the tournament’s favourite given his recent success in the Premier League), Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall, Danny Noppert, James Wade, Gary Anderson, and Raymond van Barneveld will also compete at this stage.

It is also worth noting that before to this, games were best of 11 legs prior to this stage, but at this stage, the format will be extended to best of 19 legs.

Adrian Lewis and Adam Hunt, the current tour holders, have withdrew from the UK Open, hence two players will receive a first-round bye.