There’s no colourful Butlins crowd this year, but the UK Open remains one of the highlights of the darting calendar and the 2021 event, which starts on Friday, promises to be a cracker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given its knockout open-draw format and the fact there are no seedings for the competition, the tournament is often referred to as the FA Cup of darts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s something special about the multi-board action and qualifiers from all over the country having the opportunity to lock horns with the biggest names in the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The events kicks-off with 16 Rileys qualifiers, eight Challenge Tour qualifiers, eight Development Tour qualifiers and Tour Card holders ranked 97\u2013128 in the Order of Merit clashing in round one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Players ranked 65\u201396 in the Order of Merit join the 32 winners from the first-round, before chuckers ranked 33\u201364 enter the fray in round three. Those who make it through the opening trio of games are then joined by the big boys when the world’s top-32 arrowsmiths are added to the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been plenty of shocks and upsets over the years, but when it comes to finding a winner of the event, the cream usually rises to the top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phil Taylor won the UK Open in 2010 and 2013 and since then the crown has been lifted by Michael van Gerwen three times, Adrian Lewis, Peter Wright, Gary Anderson and Nathan Aspinall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n