UK Open Through the Ages

[Rogg]

Nobody will be able to identify this person (no cheating).

You are correct.

I'm surprised I can still remember. Ok his name is bizarrely similar to a once prominent player.

[Captain Hobo]

Nobody will be able to identify this person (no cheating).

You are correct.

I'm surprised I can still remember. Ok his name is bizarrely similar to a once prominent player.

It's Kelvin Painter, right?

Of course Nicho mentioned him during the Seniors.

[Rogg]

Nobody will be able to identify this person (no cheating).

You are correct.

I'm surprised I can still remember. Ok his name is bizarrely similar to a once prominent player.

It's Kelvin Painter, right?

Of course Nicho mentioned him during the Seniors.

It is fake KP. Well done.

[oche balboa]

Roll of Honour

2003 - Phil Taylor 18-8 Shayne Burgess
2004 - Roland Scholten 11-6 John Part
2005 - Phil Taylor 13-7 Mark Walsh
2006 - Raymond van Barneveld 13-7 Barrie Bates
2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 15-8 Vincent van der Voort
2008 - James Wade 11-7 Gary Mawson
2009 - Phil Taylor 11-6 Colin Osborne
2010 - Phil Taylor 11-5 Gary Anderson
2011 - James Wade 11-8 Wes Newton
2012 - Robert Thornton 11-5 Phil Taylor
2013 - Phil Taylor 11-4 Andy Hamilton
2014 - Adrian Lewis 11-1 Terry Jenkins
2015 - Michael van Gerwen 11-5 Peter Wright
2016 - Michael van Gerwen 11-4 Peter Wright
2017 - Peter Wright 11-6 Gerwyn Price
2018 - Gary Anderson 11-8 Corey Cadby
2019 - Nathan Aspinall 11-5 Rob Cross
2020 - Michael van Gerwen 11-9 Gerwyn Price
2021 - James Wade 11-5 Luke Humphries
2022 - Danny Noppert 11-10 Michael Smith
2023 - Andrew Gilding 11-10 Michael Van Gerwen

[Rogg]

Taylor didn't dominate this one. Wadey is only 2 behind him.

[oche balboa]

UP

[DeepFriedRat]

Some previously undiscovered or famously amateur UK Open heroes of yore

Barry Lynn
Rob Cross
Aden Kirk
Gary Mawson
Paul Hogan
Nathan Rafferty
Kyle McKinstry (welp)

[oche balboa]

THE GRAND FINALE – BUDWEISER UK OPEN DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
—By Gayle Farmer




For Immediate Release: Wednesday, 14th April 2004

The line-up for this year’s Budweiser UK Open Darts Championship at the Reebok Stadium is now complete, with the Final Order of Merit in place for the climax of the FA Cup of Darts.

Over two and half thousand competitors took part in eight fiercely fought Regional Finals and Laurel Pub Company qualifiers across the UK and Ireland, all with one thing in mind – qualification for the televised Finals live on Sky Sports 4-6th June at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.

Wayne Mardle’s victory over Andy Jenkins in Sunday’s Midlands Regional Final signalled the end of the qualifying campaign and now it just remains for the best 128 players in the Budweiser UK Open Order of Merit to do battle in June for an astonishing total prize fund of £124,000!

Eight stages, 21 cameras, three days of action and a round-by-round re-draw format make the FA Cup of Darts one of the most exciting sporting weekends in the darting calendar.

Just as he did last year Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley heads up the Order of Merit, closely followed up by Ladbrokes.com World Championship runner-up Kevin Painter, with up and coming PDC names Steve Maish and Alan Caves just behind them in third and fourth positions.

The Top 32 in the money order automatically progress to Round Three – by-passing the frenzy of darts action that will take place on Day One of the Championships – with Rounds One and Two both taking place on the evening of Friday, 4th June.

The majority of the big names have made the Round Three grade and the likes of defending champ Phil Taylor, John Part, Andy Jenkins, Ronnie Baxter, Dennis Priestley, Denis Ovens, and Roland Scholten will all be able to sit back and watch the action on the first day.

Mardle’s victory in Sheffield ensured he also makes the Top 32 – Hawaii 501 leap-frogging some thirty-six places into sixth spot at the very last minute.

Alan Warriner, Lionel Sams, Les Fitton, Paul Williams and Jamie Harvey were not so inspired at the weekend and all will join the fray at Round Two having secured places in the Top 64.

Outside that Rod Harrington, Alex Roy, Keith Deller, Colin Monk, John Lowe and Cliff Lazarenko are ranked inside the 65-128 bracket will have to progress through every round if they are to steal Phil Taylor’s crown on Sunday, 6th June – something not outside the realms of possibility as proven by Shayne Burgess who played from the word go last year and reached the Final.

Once again the Championship is shaping up to be an extraordinary weekend of darts – tickets are one sale now from the Reebok Stadium Box Office Tel: 0871 871 2932.

Budweiser UK Open Darts Championship Final Order of Merit

Name TOTAL

1st Peter Manley 7,050
2nd Kevin Painter 6,250
3rd Steve Maish 5,450
4th Alan Caves 5,000
5th Wayne Mardle 4,550
6th Mark Robinson 4,550
7th Ronnie Baxter 4,450
8th Dennis Priestley 4,000
9th Phil Taylor 4,000
10th Andy Jenkins 3,650
11th Roland Scholten 3,550
12th Dennis Smith 3,350
13th Darren Webster 3,150
14th Mark Dudbridge 2,700
15th Colin Lloyd 2,400
16th Steve Parsons 2,150
17th Terry Jenkins 2,050
18th Dave Askew 2,000
19th Michael Barnard 1,850
20th Alan Reynolds 1,450
21st Mark Walsh 1,450
22nd Steve Beaton 1,350
23rd Andy Hayfield 1,350
24th Denis Ovens 1,300
25th Bob Anderson 1,300
26th Henry O'Neill 1,250
27th Adrian Gray 1,200
28th John Part 1,200
29th Matt Chapman 1,150
30th Wayne Jones 1,100
31st Mark Thomson 1,100
32nd Adrian Lewis 1,100
33rd Paul Dillon 1,000
34th Steve Johnson 950
35th Peter Allen 950
36th Tom Wilson 900
37th David Platt 900
38th Sean Palfrey 900
39th Lionel Sams 800
40th Ken Thomas 800
41st Alex MacKay 750
42nd Mark Landers 700
43rd Wes Newton 700
44th Keith Wetton 700
45th Vic Hubbard 650
46th Matt Clark 650
47th Les Fitton 600
48th Barrie Bates 600
49th Alan Warriner 550
50th Robert Green 550
51st Norman Fletcher 500
52nd Richie Blake 500
53rd Paul Williams 500
54th Martin Freeman 500
55th Erik Clarys 450
56th Richie Buckle 350
57th Andy Keen 350
58th James Wade 350
59th Les Hodkinson 350
60th Ian Whillis 350
61st Robbie Widdows 350
62nd Wayne Attwood 350
63rd Simon Whatley 350
64th Jamie Harvey 350
65ht Andrew Stevenson 300
66th Keith Deller 300
67th Peter Evison 300
68th Graeme Stoddart 300
69th Al Hedman 300
70th Mick Manning 300
71st Dennis Harbour 300
72nd Brendan Dolan 300
73rd Lee Rose 250
74th Steve Evans 250
75th Dave Ladley 250
76th Andrew Hamilton 250
77th Colin Monk 250
78th John Lowe 250
79th James Wheatley 250
80th Tony Eccles 250
81st Stuart Rattray 250
82nd Mick Kenway 250
83rd Ian Covill 250
84th Lee Palfreyman 250
85th Gary Stephens 200
86th Bob Crawley 200
87th Ricky Blay 200
88th Mark Harris 200
89th Edward Lovely 200
90th Eamon Davies 200
91st Alex Roy 200
92nd Andrew Belton 200
93rd Richie Burnett 200
94th Steve Smith 200
95th Cliff Lazarenko 200
96th Rod Harrington 200
97th Kelvin Painter 200
98th Steve Hine 150
99th Steve Gillet 150
100th Tony Smith 150
101st Dave Smith 150
102nd John Watson 150
103rd John Magowan 150
104th Shayne Burgess 150
105th Alan Green 150
106th Phil Rawson 100
107th Gary Thompson 100
108th Jan van der Rassel 100
109th Moe Whelan 100
110th Steve Richie 100
111st Ian Lever 100
112th Derek Williams 100
113th Kevin Rudling 100
114th Nigel Peden 100
115th Ian Eames 100
116th Mark Holyoake 100
117th James Dunlop 100
118th Reg Harding 100
119th Dean Williams 100
120th Tom Kirby 100
121st Deta Hedman 100
122nd John King 100
123rd James Barton 100
124th Geoff Harkup 100
125th Derek Hunt 100
126th Samuel Rooney 100
127th Andrew Davies 100
128th Andrew Findley 100
129th Dale Pinch 100
130th Tim Daniels 100
131st Ray Farrell 100

Please note that this Order of Merit is subject to final confirmation following full acceptance from all competitors.

ENDS

Budweiser UK Open Regional Final Results (Non-televised)

19th October All Ireland Regional Final – City West Hotel, Dublin (Winner: Ronnie Baxter)

9th November Welsh Regional Final – The Guildhall, Swansea (Winner: Peter Manley)

29/30 Nov Southern Regional Final – (Winner: Phil Taylor)

10/11 Jan 04 North East Regional Final – (Winner: Alan Caves)

24th January Scottish Regional Final – Murrayfield (Winner: Steve Maish)

14/15 Feb South West Regional Final – (Winner: Kevin Painter)

20/21 March North West Regional Final – (Winner: Mark Robinson)

3/4 April Midlands Regional Final – (Winner: Wayne Mardle)

Budweiser UK Open Prize Funds

TV Finals
Winner: £30,000
R-Up: £15,000
3/4: £7,500
5-8: £4,000
9-16: £2,000
17-32 £1,000
33-64 £500

Total: £124,000

20 years ago

[sennafan24]

[Rogg]

As much as I enjoyed having a new winner of something (anything! please!), I was pissed at Roley for that.

Party had conquered the Beast only for some bonehead to clean up the tournament thereafter. It happened several times in 2000s but this occasion was probably the most annoying one.

[oche balboa]

Participants

2003 - 128
2004 - 127
2005 - 173
2006 - 132
2007 - 173
2008 - 134
2009 - 129
2010 - 135
2011 - 170
2012 - 175
2013 - 146
2014 - 137
2015 - 147
2016 - 126
2017 - 127
2018 - 117
2019 - 159
2020 - 159
2021 - 150
2022 - 158
2023 - 158
2024 - 158

[Rogg]

You can see how far the game has come by looking at the field at the first Open. It looks like England emptied its pubs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_UK_Open

[oche balboa]

You can see how far the game has come by looking at the field at the first Open. It looks like England emptied its pubs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_UK_Open

Back then you had to win in the laurel pub qualifiers just to get onto the Tour. James Wade was the highest Laurel Pub qualifier in 24th. All for 128 places (& Ties)

[Rogg]

[Rogg]

Harrington's action is sadly strangled by then. Interesting interview at the end of the second vid where he's talking about Lloydy and other things.

[oche balboa]

Last chance for the Reebox

After ten months of intense competition the last UK Open Regional Final takes place this weekend.



The Laurel UK Open Midlands Regional Final represents the last chance for all players to make the Top 128 in the UK Open Order of Merit and secure a place in the UK Open Darts Championship Final at the Reebok Stadium May 30th-June1st.



Over two hundred players will travel to Nottingham on Saturday – among them many Laurel Pub Company qualifiers - determined to make the grade and equally ready to battle it out for £14,000 in prize money on offer over the two days.



To be held at The Park, Arboretum St and The Westdale, 70 Westdale Lane, Gedling on Saturday 12th and Bar Risa (Jongleurs), Canal St for the stage finals on Sunday, 13th April, the Midlands Regional Final also represents the last chance for players to ensure they finish within the exemption brackets in the UK Open Order of Merit.



Players ranked 1-32 earn an exemption into Round Three of the UK Open Finals; those ranked 32-64 will join the battle at Round Two and all those ranked 64-128 must begin their journey towards the Championship title at Round One.



At present big names Ronnie Baxter, John Lowe, Mark Holden and Peter Evison are all around the Top 32 cut-off point and yet to be certain of a direct route into the Third Round.



Just below the Top 32 good performances from the likes of Steve Beaton, Reg Harding and Keith Deller, Big Cliff Lazarenko and Mick Manning could see any one of them catapulted into the Top 32.



Around the Top 64 cut-off and a guaranteed Second Round place sit the likes of Rod Harrington, Matt Chapman, and Paul Whitworth all with plenty to play for this weekend.



At the bottom end of the Order of Merit things are very close indeed with a host of up and coming names and Laurel Pub Company qualifiers on the edge of breaking into their first major PDC televised event.



All in all there is a great deal to play for this weekend – not least the honour of topping the UK Open Order of Merit after all eight Regional Finals – a battle which is currently being contested by Peter Manley, Phil Taylor and PDC newcomer Mark Dudbridge.



Play on Saturday, 12th April will take place at The Park, Arboretum St and The Westdale, 70 Westdale Lane, Gedling with play commencing at 12noon.

Play on Sunday, 13th April will take place at Bar Risa (Jongleurs), Canal Street, Nottingham. Matches start at 12noon on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday.

Spectators are welcome at all venues and entry is FREE!

Tickets are now on sale for the UK Open Darts Championship Final at the Reebok Stadium – Call the Stadium Box Office on 0871 871 2932

Please note: Results from the Laurel UK Open Midlands Regional Final will not appear on www.planetdarts.co.uk until Monday, 14th April.

[Rogg]

Oh and from 7:50 in that first video, we have a youngling Boulton in an exciting adventure with an oldling Italian.

[oche balboa]

Oh and from 7:50 in that first video, we have a youngling Boulton in an exciting adventure with an oldling Italian.

Where's Malt lol

[oche balboa]

Imagine if the PDC did this now

PDPA player allocations for the last remaining UK Open Regional Final to be held in Nottingham, 12th/13th April.
Saturday, 12th April

The Park, Arboretum St, Nottingham:

Brad Caiger
Alan Warriner
Wesley Newton
Simon Whatley
Reg Harding
Stewart Rattray
Peter Castle
Keith Wright
John Lowe
Denis Ovens
Andy Hayfield
Peter Evison
Steve Parsons
Mick Savvery
Chris Gough
Graeme Stoddart
Wayne Jones
Peter Manley
Mark Robinson
Ian Lever
Nigel Peden
Vic Hubbard
Andrew Davies
Lionel Sams
Chris Mason
Lee Palfreyman
Dick Brittain
Ian Critchett
Pete allen
Paul Dillon
Ronnie Baxter
Keith Deller
Henry O'Neill
Darren Gale
Darren Moulsley
John King
Roland Scholten
Steve Johnson
Paul Williams
Steve Maish
Alan Green
Steve Evans
Graham Moulds
Bob Anderson
Rod Harrington
Mark Dudbridge
Les Hodkinson
Martyn Dunford
Frances Mellor
Robert Heard
Dean Taylor
Mick Carrick
Phil Songhurst
Mick Booth
Andy Keen
Phil Taylor
Cliff Lazarenko
Colin Lloyd

The Westdale, 70 Westdale Lane, Gedling:

Jonathon Hodgson
Gavin Lewis
Eric Bristow
Henry Sharkey
Adam King
Kelvin Painter
Ken Thomas
Steve Beaton
Alex Roy
Dave Askew
John Ferrell
Dennis Priestley
Dave Smith
Matt Chapman
Ray Farrell
James Richardson
Shaun Walsh
Keith Wetton
Mark Thomson
Eddie Loveley
Al Hedman
Tony Wood
Bob Avenell
Keith Rooney
Alan Caves
Andy Jenkins
Mark Walsh
Adrian Gray
Joe Palfreyman
Steve Cogger
Martin Harper
Mick Manning
Robbie Widdows
John Part
Ian Cullingworth
Brendan Dolan
Michael Kendrick
Syd Smaller
Paul Whitworth
Kevin Painter
Wayne Mardle
Barrie Bates
Charlie McCurdie
Graham Sneyd
Marshall James
Andrew Briden
Dean Williams
Sean Palfrey
Richie Burnett
Jamie Harvey
Ian Whillis
Darren Webster
Martyn Freeman
Tom Kirby
Alan Reynolds
David Platt
Dennis Smith
Terry Jenkins

Play on Sunday, 13th April will take place at Bar Risa (Jongleurs), Canal Street, Nottingham. Matches start at 12noon on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday.

PLEASE NOTE: This list inlcudes PDPA players only. All Laurel qualifiers will have been informed of their venue allocation by post.

[Deadshot]

4 TV 9 darters by 2004 and only two of them were live! Many many since. Game has come so far. Yes its on different boards, but the boards Phil and Shaun played on were better than Paul and Lowe's