James Wade, Steve Beaton and Wayne Jones will extend their ever-present records at the Ladbrokes UK Open this weekend.
One of three players who have played every UK Open since 2003. PIC;LAWRENCE LUSTIG JAMES WADE IN ACTION
The trio are the only players to have competed in every UK Open since the tournament was introduced in 2003, with Wade having claimed the title in 2008 and 2011.
Beaton was a semi-finalist in 2004 and enjoyed his best run since by reaching the quarter-finals in Minehead last year, while Jones won through to the last eight in 2003 and 2008.
Adrian Lewis will be playing in his 17th successive UK Open, having made his debut in the 2004 event before taking the title in 2014 following the tournament’s move from Bolton to Minehead.
The final day of the PDC Q School of 2020 sees several ‘big names’ battling to secure a return to darts top division. Premier League Players, World Championship and major finalists as well as other former stars are amongst those still in with a chance of claiming a tour card:
The Points table, from which at least another 12 players will gain a card, looks like this with one day to go.
1
Ryan Murray
14
2
Andy Hamilton
12
3
Damon Heta
11
4
Peter Jacques
11
5
Steve Brown (Eng)
10
6
Martin Atkins (Wigan)
9
7
Alan Tabern
9
8
Adam Hunt
9
9
Lisa Ashton
9
10
Darryl Pilgrim
8
11
Darryl Fitton
7
12
William Borland
7
13
Lee Evans
7
14
Paul Nicholson
7
15
Gary Mawson
7
16
Robert Modra
7
17
Niall Culleton
7
18
Ritchie Edhouse
7
19
Tony Newell
7
20
Seigo Asada
6
21
Jarred Cole
6
22
David Ladley
6
23
Lewis Pride
6
24
Tony Richardson
6
25
Darren Davies
6
26
Wayne Jones
6
27
Robert Collins
6
28
James Richardson
6
29
Daniel Lauby
6
30
Ryan Hogarth
5
31
Colin Osborne
5
32
Frankie Ansell
5
Former World Finalist Andy ‘The Hammer’ Hamilton leads the way for the well known players and is almost certain to regain his tour place. Major winners Paul Nicholson and Daryl Fitton (World Trophy) are within striking distance as is Lisa Ashton the four time Women’s World Champion.
The Wizard is within striking distance of a return to top.
Major finalists Colin Osborne and Wayne Jones could gain cards, with strong final day runs, and former top ten player Alan Tabern is looking good to to remain in the top flight.
Seigo Asada is carrying the flag for Japan and looking to confirm his World Championship & Asian Tour performances at the highest level. Many will also wish James ‘Ruthless’ Richardson well.
So far the tour card winners have been split between players with a strong pedigree and those who are relatively unknown. Jeff Smith, former BDO World Finalist and World Cup Champion, claimed one of yesterday’s cards, whilst the other was claimed by a lesser known Aaron Beeney, a prison officer who represent London.
The points list is a similar mix of the known and lesser known players. It seems that the Q School, despite its critics, produces a well balanced group, of additional players, for each new season!
The draw for the Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals has been made, with James Wade to open his title defence in Amsterdam against Wayne Jones or Jonny Clayton.
The season-ending tournament sees 24 players competing for a £70,000 top prize across three days, as the PDC stages a televised event in Amsterdam for the first time.
The leading eight players from the year’s World Series Order of Merit, following five international events, qualified by right and are seeded through to the second round on Saturday night.
The remaining 16 players compete in Friday’s first round – which is set to be headlined by the clash between Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price, in a repeat of Sunday’s European Championship semi-final, before the winner progresses to play World Champion Michael van Gerwen.
Wayne Jones and Jonny Clayton will play off for the right to meet reigning champion Wade, who took the title 12 months ago in Austria by edging out Smith in the final.
US Darts Masters champion Nathan Aspinall – a World Series winner in Las Vegas in July – will play Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski in another tasty first round tie, with the winner to face Daryl Gurney.
German Darts Masters finalist Gabriel Clemens will come up against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, with five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld awaiting the winner as the veteran begins his final televised event in the Netherlands ahead of retirement.
World Grand Prix finalist Dave Chisnall drew Simon Whitlock, while Mensur Suljovic will play Kyle Anderson, Ian White plays Ricky Evans and an all-Dutch tie sees Danny Noppert play Jeffrey de Zwaan.
Melbourne Darts Masters champion Damon Heta, the fifth seed, could meet former schoolmate Kyle Anderson in round two, while German Darts Masters winner Peter Wright plays Evans or White in the last 16.
Following Saturday’s second round, the tournament concludes across two sessions on Sunday, with the afternoon’s quarter-finals following in the decisive evening session by the semi-finals and final.
The Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals will be held from November 1-3 at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. Tickets are available through PDC Europe at www.pdc-europe.tv/tickets.
Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals
Draw Bracket
(1) Michael van Gerwen v Smith/Price
(8) James Wade v Jones/Clayton
(5) Damon Heta v K Anderson/Suljovic
(4) Daryl Gurney v Ratajski/Aspinall
(2) Peter Wright v Evans/White
(7) Gary Anderson v Noppert/De Zwaan
(6) Raymond van Barneveld v Wattimena/Clemens
(3) Rob Cross v Chisnall/Whitlock
First Round Draw
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Wayne Jones v Jonny Clayton
Kyle Anderson v Mensur Suljovic
Krzysztof Ratajski v Nathan Aspinall
Ricky Evans v Ian White
Danny Noppert v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Jermaine Wattimena v Gabriel Clemens
Dave Chisnall v Simon Whitlock
Schedule of Play
Friday November 1 (1945 local time, 1845 GMT)
First Round x8
Wayne Jones v Jonny Clayton
Ricky Evans v Ian White
Kyle Anderson v Mensur Suljovic
Krzysztof Ratajski v Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Dave Chisnall v Simon Whitlock
Danny Noppert v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Jermaine Wattimena v Gabriel Clemens
Saturday November 2 (2000 local time, 1900 GMT)
Second Round x8
James Wade v Jones/Clayton
Damon Heta v K Anderson/Suljovic
Daryl Gurney v Ratajski/Aspinall
Michael van Gerwen v Smith/Price
Peter Wright v Evans/White
Gary Anderson v Noppert/De Zwaan
Raymond van Barneveld v Wattimena/Clemens
Rob Cross v Chisnall/Whitlock
Sunday November 3
Afternoon Session (1345 local time, 1245 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals & Final
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