Once again, the gloriously unpredictable sorcery of UK Open darts has produced a collection of heavyweight encounters following the fifth-round draw.
With many of the sport’s most formidable practitioners safely navigating their Friday evening assignments, the Saturday afternoon schedule was always destined to deliver a sequence of mouth-watering contests. True to form, the draw obliged with a fixture list brimming with intrigue, narrative and no small amount of tungsten theatre.
One particularly tantalising tussle immediately protrudes from the schedule. Gerwyn Price is set to collide with Wessel Nijman in what promises to be a contest dripping with drama and high calibre scoring. The Iceman advanced through his opening encounter with relative serenity, while the young Dutchman demonstrated equally emphatic authority when dismantling his illustrious compatriot Raymond van Barneveld. This meeting carries all the ingredients of a pulsating classic.
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Reigning champion Luke Littler continues his quest for consecutive Minehead triumphs with a fifth-round meeting against Kevin Doets. Known as Hawkeye, the Dutch born Swedish resident already possesses a notable giant killing credential on his darting résumé, having previously eliminated Michael Smith from the World Championship.
Yet even with that impressive achievement on his ledger, he faces an exceptionally arduous assignment against The Nuke, whose alarming appetite for silverware continues to astonish even the most seasoned observers.
After producing a blistering performance in his opening match, Luke Humphries will be hoping to replicate that imperious form when he encounters the perennial nearly man of the PDC circuit, Dave Chisnall. The St Helens thrower has an unfortunate history of finishing second in numerous events, although intriguingly the UK Open is one tournament where that particular narrative has yet to materialise. On current form the advantage appears to rest with Cool Hand, though darts has always revelled in its capacity for delicious unpredictability.
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Elsewhere the draw has conjured several immensely appetising clashes between established major champions. Ross Smith versus Daryl Gurney has the unmistakable feel of a contest that could hinge upon the smallest of margins. Following his impressive triumph over world number three Gian van Veen, Rob Cross will harbour ambitions of mounting a serious Minehead assault, though standing squarely in his path is the solitary remaining Belgian competitor, Mike De Decker.
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Completing this triumvirate of compelling encounters is a meeting between two men who have previously conquered this very tournament. Peter Wright and Danny Noppert both know precisely what it takes to lift the UK Open trophy. Snakebite advanced by overcoming fellow Scot Cameron Menzies, while The Freeze delivered one of the moments of the evening by dispatching Dimitri van den Bergh with a sublime nine dart leg to conclude proceedings.
Three-time UK Open champion Michael van Gerwen, somewhat surprisingly, did not earn a berth on the main stage. Nevertheless, after the cruelty of the previous draw handed him Nathan Aspinall, the Dutch colossus will likely view his meeting with Kai Gotthardt as a comparatively agreeable proposition. The German youngster undoubtedly possesses talent, but he does not yet carry the same menacing aura as The Asp.
Another man pursuing a fourth UK Open crown is James Wade. The Aldershot stalwart must first navigate past Germany’s Gabriel Clemens if he wishes to extend his Minehead campaign. Stephen Bunting faces Austrian veteran Mensur Suljović, who advanced at the expense of his stable-mate, Jermaine Wattimena. Meanwhile Josh Rock will square off against the dangerous German prospect Dominik Gruellich, a player more than capable of unsettling established names if granted the slightest opportunity.
Proceedings recommence on Saturday afternoon and by the close of the evening the once sprawling field will have been ruthlessly reduced to just eight survivors. The question that now lingers over Minehead is simple. When the tungsten dust finally settles on the Somerset coast, which eight gladiators will still be standing on the Sabbath?
UK OPEN – FIFTH ROUND DRAW
Darryl Pilgrim v Jonny Clayton
Gabriel Clemens v James Wade
Gary Anderson v Martin Schindler
Kevin Doets v Luke Littler
Kai Gotthardt v Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock v Dominik Gruellich
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
Martin Lukeman v Madars Razma
Mensur Suljović v Stephen Bunting
Mike De Decker v Rob Cross
Oskar Lukasiak v Krzysztof Ratajski
Peter Wright v Danny Noppert
Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
Ryan Joyce v Keane Barry
Ryan Searle v Michael Smith
Wessel Nijman v Gerwyn Price
UK OPEN – FIFTH ROUND SCHEDULE
Main Stage
Gary Anderson v Martin Schindler
Wessel Nijman v Gerwyn Price
Kevin Doets v Luke Littler
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
Stage Two
Darryl Pilgrim v Jonny Clayton
Peter Wright v Danny Noppert
Mike De Decker v Rob Cross
Kai Gotthardt v Michael van Gerwen
Stage Three
Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
Mensur Suljović v Stephen Bunting
Josh Rock v Dominik Gruellich
Ryan Joyce v Keane Barry
Stage Four
Martin Lukeman v Madars Razma
Gabriel Clemens v James Wade
Oskar Lukasiak v Krzysztof Ratajski
Ryan Searle v Michael Smith
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
