The road to Minehead is never paved in velvet. It is jagged, unforgiving, and gloriously democratic – a crucible where reputations are irrelevant and audacity is currency. And over the weekend, four men battered down its doors with emphatic authority.
Meanwhile in Worksop, The Gambler rolled the dice – and loaded them. Graham Usher, once in possession of a coveted Tour Card and never short of competitive bravado, navigated the Manton Sports Club minefield with clinical assurance. A 4-1 victory over Tom Sawford sealed the deal, but the route was no stroll through provincial pleasantries. Sam Edmonds, Alex Jacques and Jacob Gwynne were all methodically negotiated as Usher secured his fifth UK Open appearance. When The Gambler bets on himself, the house rarely wins.
Simon Stevenson, a former UK Open quarter-finalist with stagecraft woven into his darting DNA, engineered his return to the sport’s FA Cup with a performance of ruthless lucidity in Plymouth. Averaging the thick end of 99 in his semi-final demolition of John Mann. He then surgically dismantled Finlay Cleave 7-1 to book his Somerset pilgrimage. Reflection became reality; The Mirror Man is heading back to the bright lights.
Further north, Callum Goffin tore through Chorlton with the velocity of a man late for destiny. His opening quartet of matches yielded a mere two legs conceded – statistical suffocation of the highest order. A deciding-leg skirmish with William Leonard only sharpened his appetite, before a 5-3 dismissal of Kevin Lane confirmed his return to the grand stage.
And then there was Ron The Bomb Meulenkamp who did not so much qualify as explode into action. The Dutchman bulldozed Josh Bury 5-1 in Liverpool’s winner-takes-all showdown, having earlier extinguished World Championship qualifier David Davies in the semi-finals. Three separate deciding-leg duels were survived en route – pressure absorbed, nerves neutralised. This will be his eighth UK Open appearance. Experience fused with explosive timing.
The amateur pathway continues this weekend via Harlow and London Victoria, while the Community Qualifiers conclude in Enderby and Alfreton. Entry remains open – £15, over-16s, no Tour Card required – but the door closes at 1700 GMT the day prior. And remember, some venues remain under-18 restrictive.
Butlins, Minehead awaits.
2026 PDC in the Community Qualifiers:
Flights Sports & Social Club, Fleetwood: Jack Todd
OutOut Bar, Newport: Clive Langford
The Syston Brookside Club, Syston: Kyle Gilding
Worthies Sports & Social Club, Kings Worthy: Callum Francis
Legends Darts Lounge, Plymouth: Simon Stevenson
Manton Sports Club, Worksop: Graham Usher
Enderby & District Social Club, Enderby: TBC
Somercotes Snooker Club, Alfreton: TBC
2026 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers:
Solihull: Neil Wild
Aberdeen: Sean Ryan
Coventry: Daniel Lee
Norwich: Oliver King
Chorlton: Callum Goffin
Liverpool: Ron Meulenkamp
Harlow: TBC (Feb 21)
London Victoria: TBC (Feb 22)
—–ENDS—–
Images: MODUS
