UK Open Darts: The magic of the cup brings together Michael van Gerwen, John Part and a stone mason from Wolverhampton in Minehead

(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 Tungsten Tales: :”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.

So now onto the betting tips – but I’m going to keep this relatively brief.

Darts fans who know this event well don’t need telling it’s a bit of lottery given the random draws and no seedings – apart from the fact the top 32 players from the UK Open Qualifying Order of Merit don’t enter until the third-round on Friday night. You can click here for the full tournament format but it’s basically very FA Cup.

So in theory, the odds-on favourite Michael van Gerwen could play the likes of Gary Anderson, Peter Wright or Rob Cross in their first match and therefore I don’t really like the idea of piling into a short-priced player.

That said, there’s only been a couple of surprise winners – Roland Sholten in 2004 when he beat John Part and Robert Thornton in 2012 after he stunned Phil Taylor 11-5.

The Power won it five times while MVG, Barney and James Wade have lifted the trophy twice each, with Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright also getting in on the act.

Although Wright is the defending champion, MVG hasn’t lost here since 2014 having missed last year’s event due to illness so he’ll clearly be expected to triumph here once again.

We’ve had unsung heroes reaching the final such as Shaune Burgess, Mark Walsh, Gary Mawson, Colin Osbourne and most recently Gerwyn Price, with the Welshman using his breakthrough last year as a launchpad to where he is now – the Premier League.

At 80/1, the Iceman is the biggest priced Premier League player due to the fact he’s out of form and he comes in at the second-round stage having failed to make the top 32 for prize money across those six qualifying tournaments.

The best body in darts did miss one of those events which didn’t help but I fancy him to use his experience of last year to remind everyone of his potential.

He may not have won a match in the Premier League yet but she’s shown plenty of his fighting spirit to earn two draws from tough positions against Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney.

In this kind of format, you could literally make a case for a huge chunk of the field from experienced heads like Barney to up and coming stars like Dimitri van den Bergh but my other small stakes pick is Corey Cadby.

It’s not going to be too long at all before the Aussie sensation is landing big titles having already shown us his star quality against big names in World Series of Darts events and I think his arrogance/confidence is channelled in the right way.

Having earned his PDC Tour card through Q School in January he’s already won a maiden PDC title by triumphing at one of the UK Open qualifying events, where he beat Rob Cross in the final as well as seeing off Simon Whitlock and Michael Smith, while he recently knocked but Gary Anderson en route to a Players Championship final.

MVG thrashed him in the final but nevertheless he’s definitely a player who can be a match for anyone.

Consistency issues which is part and parcel of being such a newcomer may put punters off but there’s a reason why he’s the shortest priced non-Premier League player.

UK Open Darts recommended bets

0.5 pts each-way Gerwyn Price to win the UK Open at 80/1

0.5 pts each-way Corey Cadby to win the UK Open at 28/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record.

Click here for the full draw, daily schedule, results and odds!

Posted at 1940 GMT on 01/03/18.

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