Chris Hammer previews the UK Open - aka the FA Cup of Darts - which is hoping to beat the big freeze in Minehead this weekend.
(Click here for full tournament results & round-by-round draws)
Snow has often played havoc with the early rounds of the FA Cup but never the darts version in March!
The freezing temperatures, snow and ice caused by the ‘Beast from the East’ claimed Thursday night’s Premier League fixtures in Exeter and although the first proper major of the season at Butlin’s Minehead Resort will be staged this weekend - the opening day is being played behind closed doors. Albeit still live on ITV4.
I’m particularly concerned whether the star of our Sporting Life Podcast – and three-time world champion of course – John Part has been able to make what must be an arduous trip from Toronto to Minehead in these conditions. And if he has, what state he’ll be in!
It has Trains, Planes and Automobiles written all over it. Especially considering all the hype and build-up we’ve been giving his big return to the televised stage on our show in recent weeks.
Darth Maple, who is a 1000/1 outsider to make Sporting Life Podcast dreams come true by lifting the FA Cup of Darts on Sunday, is scheduled to play amateur thrower John Morris in round one on the Main Stage on Friday afternoon.
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The other John is a stonemason from Wolverhampton and he’ll be making his first appearance in a PDC Tour event – let alone a televised major – having won through one of the amateur qualifying events at a Rileys Sports Bar in Wolverhampton.
Morris is one of 32 ‘non-league’ players in a total field of 128 to qualify for the first-round proper although you will recognise one of them - former world championship runner-up Andy Hamilton, who no longer has a PDC Tour Card.
Although his reputation of being a three-time major finalist – including the 2013 UK Open – means only a win against a current PL player would be seen as a giant-killing, his story shouldn’t be overlooked.
He opted against Q-School this year and will instead turn to BDO events in 2018 as he attempts to rebuild his career and confidence.
Anyway, back to Morris and for him to get drawn with a three-time world champion is the stuff darting dreams are made of.
There’s only five other PDC world champions in the total field of 128 – Rob Cross, MVG, Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld – but none of them have won it as many as Part!
(For the full draw, schedule & and tournament format – click here)
Of course current world champion Rob Cross was a Rileys Qualifier in this very event two years ago when he came up against Michael van Gerwen in a match which has gone down in folklore after the Dutchman nailed 18 perfect darts in a row during three legs which included two 170 checkouts either side of a nine-dart finish!
Voltage showed potential that day but few would have expected him to reach the sport’s summit less than two years later.
Unsurprisingly, his staggering rise to stardom made this year’s Rileys Amateur Qualifiers more keenly contested than ever – especially at just £7 to enter which also included a free drink – and they’ll all be harbouring hopes of claiming some prized scalps.
Part has told us on the recent Podcasts that he’s going to “prepare for the worst” like he does for any game in terms of assuming John will average in the 90s and therefore avoid any hint of complacency.
Canada’s favourite darting son has been there, done that and looked down on the world of darts from the very top three times during a very long career so they’ll obviously be no stage fright.
But make no mistake about it – the 51-year-old is very much relishing his return to a big stage for the first time since 2015 (if you ignore the World Cup of Darts) and the crowd will be fully behind him if he can get on a run.
There’s also another story I’d like to draw your attention and that’s the one of Andrew Pullen, who qualified alongside Morris in Wolverhampton.
Like Morris, the Upton thrower has never qualified for a PDC Tour event but unfortunately one man who won’t be proudly watching him finally achieve his goal in Minehead is his father, who recently passed away.
He told : :”He used to come and watch me at a lot of events like this where I’d reach the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and as soon as I’ve lost him, I’ve qualified.
“That’s why I broke down when I qualified. He’s always with me – I think he even blew that double tops in for me to qualify! I hadn’t hit it all day!”
You can watch the full interview with both players below.
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Click here for the full draw, daily schedule, results and odds!
Posted at 1940 GMT on 01/03/18.