Here’s Johnny! Haines Back at UK Open After 7 Year TV Absence

Johnny Haines and David Sumner sealed their qualification for the 2024 UK Open after winning through last weekend’s opening set of Rileys Amateur Qualifiers.

Former World Championship qualifier Haines won through Sunday’s Rileys Coventry Qualifier to secure a place in his tenth UK Open – seven years on from his last televised appearance in the PDC.

The 59-year-old will be one of the 16 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers to take part in the 160-player event at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from March 1-3.

Haines stormed through the 157-player field in Coventry for the loss of just five legs, before confirming his qualification with a whitewash win over Paul Self in Sunday’s decider.

He was joined in qualifying by newcomer Sumner, who will make his televised debut after winning through a 101-player field in Saturday’s Rileys Chester Qualifier.

Sumner – a regular feature on the Winmau Challenge Tour last year – defeated Paddy Williams 5-3 to become the first Rileys Amateur Qualifier of 2024.

The Rileys Amateur Qualifiers continue on January 27-28 with further knockouts at the Rileys clubs in Norwich, Solihull, London Victoria and Liverpool.

Entries will cost £10 and are available through the Rileys website – with entry open to all players over the age of 16 who do not hold a PDC Tour Card.

Online entries will close at 1700 GMT on the day before a qualifying event takes place.