UK Open - First Day

AMATEUR stars Rob Cross and Barry Lynn will take on the world's top two darts players, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, in the Coral UK Open fourth round after winning through Friday's early stages in Minehead, as Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld prepare for a high-profile showdown.

The 300,000 pound UK Open Televised Finals kicked off with a thrilling day of action as 128 players competed across eight stages at the Butlins Minehead Resort, live on ITV4. On Friday afternoon with Robert Thornton, Wes Newton and Kevin Painter already three well known names were eliminated from the tournament.

Hastings-based electrician Cross, one of the 32 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers who won through nationwide knockouts to secure places alongside the 96 professional qualifiers, won three matches on the day to secure a dream clash with van Gerwen. Cross defeated Canada's Ken MacNeil, former UK Open finalist Wes Newton and Dutchman Jeffrey De Graaf to seal a last 32 spot, and admitted: "I'm gobsmacked that I'm still here but I'm very excited.
"I'm absolutely over the moon. I've played some quality darts today and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. It's the biggest event I've ever played in and I've handled the nerves and really enjoyed it. It's been out of this world and I feel comfortable when I'm playing. Hopefully it carries on tomorrow - I'm not worried, I've got to go up there and try to produce a decent game to try and win."

Reigning UK Open champion van Gerwen showed his class with two 170 checkouts in his 9-2 victory over Ryan Harrington, the son of former world number one Rod who had won through to the third round in Minehead for a second successive year before coming up against the in-form Dutch superstar.
"I had some good finishes and it's nice to get the first game out of the way," said van Gerwen. "I'm in the tournament now and I feel really comfortable. I'm playing really well and I want to play better than this in the next round."

Essex's Lynn, meanwhile, followed up wins over Dean Stewart and Brett Claydon in the afternoon session by defeating former World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan 9-6 as he sealed a spot in the last 32 - where he now meets World Champion Gary Anderson.
Anderson, though, had to overcome some nervy moments as he hit back from 7-5 down to defeat Dave Chisnall 9-7, winning the final four legs without reply after his opponent had taken out a superb 138 to move two legs clear.
Five-time UK Open champion Taylor also had to overcome stiff opposition before sealing a fourth round spot, with former World Youth Champion Arron Monk coming from 5-3 down to level before missing one dart to move ahead in leg 11. Taylor pounced and took four legs in a row to progress, only to draw two-time UK Open champion Raymond van Barneveld in a huge fourth round contest after the Dutchman earlier produced an 11-dart finish in the deciding leg of his tight battle with youngster David Pallett.


2014 UK Open champion Adrian Lewis swept past Cumbria's Tony Newell 9-1 and now plays John Henderson, who defeated Sweden's Magnus Caris 9-4.
Two-time UK Open winner James Wade, though, crashed out 9-2 to Austria's Mensur Suljovic, who has been a quarter-finalist in this event in the past two years and now takes on Dutch youngster Ryan De Vreede, who defeated Nathan Derry, Andrew Gilding and Josh Payne on Friday.
The two beaten finalists in the 2014 and 2015 UK Opens, Terry Jenkins and Peter Wright, will meet in the fourth round after their respective wins over Steve Beaton and Ronny Huybrechts.

Australian ace Simon Whitlock, who has started wearing glasses in 2016 in a bid to reverse his slide down the rankings, impressed with a comeback win over Ian White, and he now plays Dutch youngster Benito van de Pas, who saw off Mervyn King 9-7.

Alan Norris averaged 102 and took out a 170 finish in his 9-7 win over Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, and he now plays Joe Cullen after the Bradford youngster's impressive 9-1 defeat of Stoke's Mark Frost.
Jamie Caven was another player to land a 170 finish as he overcame Gloucestershire's Lee Evans 9-7, and he now plays Stephen Bunting after the former Lakeside Champion produced legs of 12 and 11 darts to edge through from 8-7 down against Jamie Lewis.
Australian ace Kyle Anderson dropped only two legs in his win over Andy Hamilton, setting up a fourth round meeting with James Wilson, who saw off German debutant Rene Eidams 9-3.

Bolton's Joe Murnan punished Welshman Gerwyn Price for a missed match dart in the deciding leg of their contest as he moved through to a meeting with Jelle Klaasen, with the Dutchman defeating Matt Clark 9-6.

Former World Youth Champion Michael Smith capitalised on three missed match darts from Daryl Gurney to progress to a meeting with Stuart Kellett, who was a 9-7 winner against Dutch ace Joey Ten Berge.
2007 UK Open runner-up Vincent van der Voort enjoyed a 9-3 win over Dean Winstanley and now faces former semi-finalist Andy Jenkins, who defeated Wayne Jones and Richie Corner on Friday.

Taunton's Justin Pipe ended the hopes of UK Open ever-present Alex Roy - a Rileys Amateur Qualifier who won two games to reach the third round - with a 9-7 win, and he now plays Kim Huybrechts after the Belgian dropped just one leg in his defeat of Steve Maish. Wales' Mark Webster defeated Daventry's Matthew Edgar 9-3 and now plays Dutch youngster Dirk van Duijvenbode, who was a 9-6 winner against Robbie Green, while Ricky Evans' 9-5 win over Andy Boulton means that he faces Darren Webster in round four, with the Norwich ace being a 9-5 winner over Edinburgh-based amateur Andrew Davidson.

Saturday's double session at the Butlins Minehead Resort will see the fifth round (last 16) held in the evening session before Sunday sees the tournament conclude with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.







Contact © Global Darts. All Rights Reserved. Impressum