The UK Open draws to a close on Sunday with the quarter finals, semi-finals and the final all taking place on a bumper day of darts at Butlins in Minehead, as the first televised ranking event of the new season concludes.
We have some big names mixed in with some lesser lights who all have a chance of winning the title on Sunday. We will preview the quarter finals here but the semi-finals and final are in the evening and time will deny us the chance to cover them.
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Gerwyn Price
The opening match of the day sees the talented Belgian ace Dimitri Van den Bergh looking to progress to a first televised title when he takes on a Gerwyn Price who will be looking to add another TV win to his two Grand Slam wins to his name.
Price is a pretty short favourite for this match it has to be said and while I think he will win I wouldn’t want to be backing him at those odds. I was tempted by the 3.5 leg handicap that Van den Bergh is in receipt of, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Price misses enough doubles for it to land but I’m not really sure I want to be relying on someone to miss doubles for a bet to land so I’ll sit this one out.
Michael van Gerwen vs Rob Cross
The pick of the quarter finals comes in the second match of the afternoon as Michael van Gerwen goes up against Rob Cross in the one game in the last eight that sees two Premier League players opposing each other.
Van Gerwen went into the tournament with a lot of doubts over his form but he has rammed those doubts round everyone’s throats as he has won three games, two of them with a 105+ average. He has ridden his luck at times though which will give Cross some confidence, but the former world champion who made his name in this tournament a few years ago, will know he has to raise his game if he is to win this one. I don’t see past a van Gerwen win here but he isn’t convincing me enough to take him just yet.
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Daryl Gurney vs Jelle Klaasen
The third quarter final of the afternoon could easily have been an all-Scottish affair between Peter Wright and Gary Anderson but Daryl Gurney and Jelle Klaasen had other ideas and it is they who will do battle for a place in the semi-final of the competition.
Gurney has been the big story of the week so far in many ways. He was 9-7 down to Keegan Brown in his first match but won 10-9 and in an even deeper hole in the last 32 where he trailed William O’Connor 7-1 before coming through a deciding leg. He then recovered to take out Peter Wright and he is favourite to see off Jelle Klaasen, who has Gary Anderson among his victims this week. I would expect Gurney to win this match but he can’t keep getting out of the positions he’s been in so I’m not that interested in a bet here.
Jamie Hughes vs Jonny Clayton
The most interesting quarter final could well be the last one to be played on the main stage as Jamie Hughes takes on Jonny Clayton with both men having a great chance to make a rare televised semi-final and do their ranking some good.
I like Hughes as a player. I have done since his BDO days and although his progress isn’t being talked about much on the PDC scene because of the amazing feats Glen Durrant is achieving, Hughes is getting better all the time and whatever happens here he’ll go from strength to strength. I do think Clayton is a worthy favourite here however. He averaged over 100 in his first two matches and was a shade under that on Saturday night in beating Chris Dobey, in a contest in which he nailed a nine dart finish. He looks to be in sensational form this weekend and assuming that continues I think he’ll win this one.
Tips
WON – Back J.Clayton to beat J.Hughes for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with 888sport
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