2019 UK Open.

The FA Cup of Darts is back this weekend. And given the standards of the Player Championships it is set to be an exciting weekend.
9 darters have been commonplace in the floor events of recent weeks, and it would not be a surprise to see more than one this weekend.

There has been a change to the format of the UK Open this year, with a 4 tiered round entry based on the order of merit. The top 32 will join in Round 4,those ranked 33-65 (no 64th ranked Corey Cadby) in the 3rd, 66-97 in the second and the rest will start in the first round.

The good news is that holder Gary Anderson will be playing, despite missing the Premier League and Players Championship events thus far.
Michael van Gerwen has already bettered last years 3rd round, thanks to the reformatting. But he will hope to win a match this time out, after his defeat to Jeffrey de Zwaan 12 months ago.
Glen Durrant will be hoping to impress in his first televised PDC event. He joins in Round Two, where he meets the winner of Daniel Dat and Maik Kuivenhoven. In round 3 he will face one of Gavin Carlin, Christian Bunse or John Michael if he wins his 2nd round game.

The uniqueness of this tournament can be personified by the semi-finalists last year. Alongside Anderson were Corey Cadby, the beaten finalist who sadly won't be here this year, David Pallett and Robert Owens. The 2018 edition will also be fondly remembered for John Parts run to the Quarter Finals.


The first 3 rounds have already been drawn. Some of the ties of these rounds are potentially:

Round One
Mark McGeeney v David Pallett
Mike van Duivenbode v Ted Evetts
Joe Murnan v Mark Frost
Diogo Portela v Barrie Bates
Dennis Nielsson v Madars Razma

Round Two
Glen Durrant v Day/Kuivenhoven
Nilsson/Razma v McGeeney/Pallett
Shepherd/Worsley v Bradley Brooks
Scott Baker v Ryan Harrington
Mark Wilson v Mark Dudbridge

Round Three
Luke Humphries v Vincent van der Voort
Mickey Mansell v Danny Noppert
Richard North v Ronny Huybrechts
Toni Alcinas v Nathan Aspinall



The past paced tournament starts on Friday, live on ITV 4, with the first 3 rounds. The big guns join on Friday evening, with the final on Sunday night.


Schedule of Play
Friday March 1
Afternoon Session (1100 GMT start – 1200 GMT start on Main Stage)
First, Second & Third Rounds
Main Stage, Stage Two & Stages Three-Eight

Evening Session (1900 GMT start)
Fourth Round
Main Stage, Stage Two & Stages Three-Eight

Saturday March 2
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT start)
Fifth Round
Main Stage, Stage Two & Stages Three-Four

Evening Session (1900 GMT start)
Sixth Round
Main Stage & Stage Two

Sunday March 3
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT start)
Quarter-Finals
Main Stage

Evening Session (1900 GMT start)
Semi-Finals & Final
Main Stage

Format
First, Second & Third Rounds - Best of 11 legs
Fourth, Fifth & Sixth Rounds & Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals & Final - Best of 21 legs