Following a frenetic Friday afternoon brimming with darting drama, the surviving combatants gathered themselves and anxiously awaited the UK Open fourth round draw – that sacred juncture in proceedings when the sport’s heavy artillery finally strides into the arena.
As is tradition with this wonderfully anarchic tournament, the draw delivered a heady cocktail of anticipation, trepidation and the occasional look of quiet horror. With seedings ceremoniously discarded and hierarchy gleefully ignored, the Butlin’s faithful are once again primed for an evening of utterly enthralling confrontations.
The famous “FA Cup of darts” rarely disappoints, and this year’s assortment of match-ups looks particularly sumptuous.Definitely one of the ties that protrudes conspicuously from the pack is the meeting between three-time UK Open champion James Wade and the ever-dangerous Chris Dobey.
Some players quietly hope to ease themselves into proceedings with a more forgiving opponent, while others prefer an immediate examination of their credentials. For these two elite Englishmen, however, the decision has been emphatically made for them. Wade, one of the most decorated operators this tournament has ever witnessed, has hoisted the trophy on three separate occasions.
Dobey, meanwhile, has developed an increasingly impressive habit of venturing deep into the Minehead labyrinth. If the Geordie is to extend that trend once more, he must first negotiate the formidable obstacle of the most accomplished UK Open campaigner in the field.
Another deliciously tantalising collision arrives in the form of Michael van Gerwen against Nathan Aspinall. Between them they possess four UK Open titles, with the Dutch colossus responsible for a third of those triumphs while Aspinall memorably captured the crown in 2019.
THE UK OPEN IN FACTS AND STATS: dartsdatabase.co.uk for all you need to know
The Green Machine’s season thus far has oscillated between brilliance and frustration, though his cabinet has already welcomed a World Series trophy alongside victory on the opening night of the Premier League in Newcastle. Aspinall, for his part, began the campaign with encouraging vibrancy, reaching the final of the first Players Championship event in Hildesheim. Both arrow-smiths will understand that anything short of their sharpest artillery will see their Minehead expedition abruptly curtailed.
Reigning UK Open champion – and, it sometimes feels, reigning champion of almost everything else – Luke Littler begins his title defence against Damon Heta. The Australian has not quite ignited the circuit with his usual incandescent scoring in recent months, yet he possesses the unnerving knack of unsettling the teenage phenomenon.
Heta has already demonstrated he can trouble the Warrington prodigy, and if Littler arrives even fractionally undercooked, this contest has all the ingredients of a classic banana skin.One encounter that positively bellows “main stage” from the rooftops is Rob Cross against Dutch number one Gian van Veen. The highly talented 23-year old has acquired something of an unfortunate reputation as a perennial runner-up in recent months, repeatedly arriving at the final hurdle only to fall agonisingly short.
There remains, of course, an abundance of darts to be thrown before such a scenario could materialise here. But if van Veen harbours ambitions of rewriting that narrative, he must first ensure it is lights out for Voltage.
Fan favourite Gary Anderson also finds himself embroiled in a heavyweight confrontation as he meets Dirk van Duijvenbode. Despite his Scottish heritage, Anderson now resides in Somerset, meaning the locals have enthusiastically adopted him as one of their own. Not that the Flying Scotsman requires geographical assistance when it comes to popularity – his support base tends to follow him with the loyalty of a travelling carnival.
Neither man will have greeted this pairing with unrestrained delight, yet for the eventual victor it could serve as a colossal injection of confidence.One individual labouring under particularly intense scrutiny this weekend is Dimitri van den Bergh.
The Belgian lifted the UK Open title two years ago, which means the substantial ranking bounty attached to that triumph now hangs precariously over his shoulders. Defending such riches is rarely a comfortable assignment and drawing Danny Noppert from the proverbial hat will hardly have eased the tension.
In previous years this fixture would have been a near certainty for the main stage. In the current climate, however, it is a contest The Freeze may regard with cautious optimism.Elsewhere in the draw we are treated to a Luke derby, as Woodhouse collides with Humphries.
DARTS WORLD HALLS OF FAME: The UK Open roll of honour
Much like Littler earlier, this is hardly the gentlest of introductions for the reigning Premier League champion. Woody’s rhythmical scoring and fearlessness on the outer ring make him an exceedingly dangerous adversary, and Cool Hand will need to locate his most clinical composure to progress.The two Welsh talismans, by contrast, appear to have received comparatively accommodating assignments.
Gerwyn Price is scheduled to face Greg Ritchie, while compatriot Jonny Clayton meets Alexander Merkx as both seek to ignite their Minehead campaigns.Two former PDC major champions also cross paths in a contest laced with intriguing narrative. Andrew Gilding famously stunned Michael van Gerwen in a dramatic last leg decider to secure his maiden major title at this very tournament.
One year prior to that golden coronation, Ross Smith was hoisting the European Championship trophy. Only one of those accomplished marksmen will still be standing by the end of the evening.Among the Premier League contingent there is a similarly mixed assortment of challenges.
Josh Rock will attempt to banish the lingering frustrations of his Thursday night Premier League tribulations when he faces fellow Irishman Willie O’Connor in what promises to be a spirited Emerald Isle duel. Meanwhile Liverpool’s Stephen Bunting must navigate a distinctly continental obstacle in the form of France’s Thibault Tricole.
And with the stage now set, the UK Open prepares once more to deliver its trademark alchemy of unpredictability, theatre and pure tungsten chaos. Minehead awaits.
UK OPEN – FOUTH ROUND DRAW
Mensur Suljovic v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael Smith v Leon Weber
Oskar Lukasiak v Benjamin Pratnemer
Henry Coates v Keane Barry
Joe Cullen v Martin Schindler
Greg Ritchie v Gerwyn Price
Martin Lukeman v Ritchie Edhouse
Ross Smith v Andrew Gilding
Kai Gotthardt v Tom Sykes
Richard Veenstra v Gabriel Clemens
Raymond van Barneveld v Wessel Nijman
Connor Scutt v Darryl Pilgrim
Josh Rock v William O’Connor
Kevin Doets v Jeffrey de Graaf
Stephen Bunting v Thibault Tricole
Daryl Gurney v Niels Zonneveld
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Gary Anderson
Ryan Joyce v Charlie Manby
Chris Dobey v James Wade
Niall Culleton v Dominik Gruellich
Krzysztof Ratajski v Ricky Evans
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Danny Noppert
Luke Littler v Damon Heta
Jim Long v Madars Razma
Luke Woodhouse v Luke Humphries
Rob Cross v Gian van Veen
Cameron Menzies v Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen v Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton v Alexander Merkx
Andy Boulton v Ryan Searle
Mike De Decker v Adam Lipscombe
Dave Chisnall v Scott Campbell
BOARDS AND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY EVENING
This evening’s UK Open fourth round action continues on Friday night across the eight stages. Here is the full schedule:
Main Stage
Rob Cross v Gian van Veen
Luke Woodhouse v Luke Humphries
Luke Littler v Damon Heta
Michael van Gerwen v Nathan Aspinall
Stage Two
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Danny Noppert
Joe Cullen v Martin Schindler
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Gary Anderson
Chris Dobey v James Wade
Stage Three
Mensur Suljovic v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael Smith v Leon Weber
Oskar Lukasiak v Benjamin Pratnemer
Henry Coates v Keane Barry
Stage Four
Greg Ritchie v Gerwyn Price
Martin Lukeman v Ritchie Edhouse
Ross Smith v Andrew Gilding
Kai Gotthardt v Tom Sykes
Stage Five
Niall Culleton v Dominik Gruellich
Krzysztof Ratajski v Ricky Evans
Jim Long v Madars Razma
Cameron Menzies v Peter Wright
Stage Six
Kevin Doets v Jeffrey de Graaf
Stephen Bunting v Thibault Tricole
Daryl Gurney v Niels Zonneveld
Ryan Joyce v Charlie Manby
Stage Seven
Richard Veenstra v Gabriel Clemens
Raymond van Barneveld v Wessel Nijman
Connor Scutt v Darryl Pilgrim
Josh Rock v William O’Connor
Stage Eight
Jonny Clayton v Alexander Merx
Andy Boulton v Ryan Searle
Mike De Decker v Adam Lipscombe
Dave Chisnall v Scott Campbell
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
