Rileys Darts Zone UK Open Preview
The Rileys Darts Zone UK Open begins tonight at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium, with amateur players having the chance to challenge professionals on the big stage.
The tournament is exciting for both fans and players, as it is based on an FA Cup-style draw, and will have 42 amateurs taking on 96 professionals, with matches being held on eight stages simultaneously in the early rounds.
The top 32 players in the world, the likes of 15-time champion of the world Phil Taylor, James Wade, Mervyn King and Simon Whitlock, don’t enter until the third round, which will be on Friday.
Tonight, among the amateurs will be Andy Hutchings, a HGV driver for Royal Mail, Stuart Monaghan, a part-time rugby league referee and Ashley Whisker, a tractor driver from Essex.
The opening match has tractor driver Whisker up against 2008 UK Open runner-up Gary Mawson.
“I don't know anything about him. He's obviously a good young player to have qualified but it doesn't matter. It's all about me and what I do when we get on stage. It's a venue I love and one where I had success a couple of years ago, and I'm really looking forward to it,” said Mawson.
Several recognised names will be playing tonight as well in the second round. Steve Beaton, Peter Manley, Wayne Mardle and Robert Thornton await the winners from the first round.
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has given his full support to the tournament.
“I absolutely love darts. It's a really good, entertaining night out. I'll be trying to get along and I've mentioned to the players and staff and they want to get along too because it's a fantastic tournament. The more people who go along, the better.
“Everybody's really up for it when they go along, the coverage is great and the sport is going from strength to strength. My message to the fans is to get along and support it. We want as many large-scale events as possible and that's certainly one of them,” said Coyle.
Taylor - who recently made history by hitting two nine-darters in his Premier League triumph over Wade a few weeks ago - wants to retain his title.
Speaking after his win at Wembley Arena, Taylor said: “I'm already looking at Bolton and I want to keep the UK Open title. I can hear my dad saying 'right, you've done that now, shut up and get on with the next one now'.
“There's no bragging, he used to say that you shouldn't talk about yourself because people will talk about you. I was in the gym on Tuesday and back on the practice board. Being back in the gym has helped me out fitness-wise and with my stamina, which will be important in Bolton.”
The last 32 and last 16 will carry through until Saturday before the quarter-finals on Sunday, along with the semi-finals and final will be spread across two sessions at the Reebok Stadium.
The winner will take home £40,000.
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