2021 UK Open

The 2021 Ladbrokes UK Open was a darts tournament staged by the Professional Darts Corporation. It was the nineteenth year of the tournament where players compete in a single elimination tournament to be crowned champion. The tournament was held for the first time at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England, between 5–7 March 2021, and was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1]

2021 Ladbrokes UK Open
Tournament information
Dates	5–7 March 2021
Venue	Marshall Arena
Location	Milton Keynes, England
Organization(s)	Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
Format	Legs Final – best of 21
Prize fund	£450,000
Winner's share	£100,000
Nine-dart finish	Sebastian Białecki Jitse van der Wal
High checkout	170 Chris Dobey 170 Glen Durrant 170 Geert Nentjes 170 Devon Petersen 170 Michael Smith
Champion(s)
James Wade
«2020 2022»

Michael van Gerwen was the defending champion after defeating Gerwyn Price 11–9 in the 2020 final.^[2] However, he lost 11–5 to Luke Humphries in the semi-finals.

Lisa Ashton became the first woman to win a match at the UK Open since 2005, defeating Aaron Beeney 6–2 in Round 2, and also set a new world record for the highest televised average by a female player, with an average of 100.34.^[3] Sebastian Białecki, the first player born after the inaugural event in 2003 to play in the UK Open,^[4] hit a nine-dart finish in his opening round victory over Jim McEwan. Jitse van der Wal then hit a nine-dart finish against Białecki in the second round.^[3]

James Wade won his third UK Open title, and his first since 2011, with an 11–5 victory over Luke Humphries in the final.

Prize money

The prize fund remained at £450,000. With the withdrawal of seven tour card players the field is reduced to 153 players.

Stage (no. of players)		Prize money (Total: £450,000)
Winner	(1)	£100,000
Runner-up	(1)	£40,000
Semi-finalists	(2)	£20,000
Quarter-finalists	(4)	£12,500
Last 16 (sixth round)	(8)	£7,500
Last 32 (fifth round)	(16)	£4,000
Last 64 (fourth round)	(32)	£2,000
Last 95 (third round)	(31)	£1,000
Last 127 (second round)	(32)	£0
Last 153 (first round)	(25)	£0

Format

There is a slight change in format for this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no Rileys amateur qualifiers could be held. In 2021, the top eight of both the UK and European Qualifying School Order of Merits who have not yet qualified for the tournament filled those 16 spots.^[5]

The 153 participants will enter the competition incrementally, with 50 players entering in the first round, with match winners joining the 32 players entering in the second and third rounds to leave the last 64 in the fourth round.

• No players are seeded.
• A random draw is held for each of the following rounds following the conclusion of the third round.
• All matches in the first, second and third rounds will be played over best of 11 legs.
• All matches in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds and quarter-finals will be played over best of 19 legs.
• All matches in the semi-finals and final will be played over best of 21 legs.
• Eight boards will be used for matches in the first, second, third and fourth rounds.
• Four boards will be used for matches in the fifth round.
• Two boards will be used for matches in the sixth round.
• One board will be used for all the matches in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

Qualifiers

Boris Krčmar, Daniel Larsson, Darren Penhall, Wesley Harms, Michael Unterbuchner and Robert Marijanović withdrew before the draw was made.

Cristo Reyes and Florian Hempel withdrew after the draw took place, so their opponents Jitse van der Wal (in round 1) and Ryan Joyce (in round 3) both got byes to their next respective rounds.^[6] Justin Pipe tested positive for COVID-19, meaning Luke Humphries received a bye to round 4.^[7]

Number 1–32 of the PDC Order of Merit (receiving byes into fourth round)

1.  Gerwyn Price
2.  Michael van Gerwen
3.  Peter Wright
4.  Rob Cross
5.  James Wade
6.  Gary Anderson
7.  Dave Chisnall
8.  Michael Smith
9.  Dimitri Van den Bergh
10.  Nathan Aspinall
11.  Daryl Gurney
12.  Ian White
13.  Glen Durrant
14.  Krzysztof Ratajski
15.  José de Sousa
16.  Joe Cullen
17.  Stephen Bunting
18.  Jonny Clayton
19.  Simon Whitlock
20.  Mensur Suljović
21.  Mervyn King
22.  Danny Noppert
23.  Jeffrey de Zwaan
24.  Adrian Lewis
25.  Chris Dobey
26.  Vincent van der Voort
27.  Jermaine Wattimena
28.  Jamie Hughes
29.  Gabriel Clemens
30.  Dirk van Duijvenbode
31.  Ricky Evans
32.  Devon Petersen

Number 33–64 of the PDC Order of Merit (receiving byes into third round)

33.  Steve Beaton
34.  Brendan Dolan
35.  William O'Connor
36.  Keegan Brown
37.  Ryan Searle
38.  Kim Huybrechts
39.  Max Hopp
40.  Darius Labanauskas
41.  Luke Humphries
42.  John Henderson
43.  Ross Smith
44.  Ryan Joyce
45.  Darren Webster
46.  Steve West
47.  Justin Pipe (withdrew)
48.  Damon Heta
49.  Luke Woodhouse
50.  Ron Meulenkamp
51.  Steve Lennon
52.  Andy Boulton
53.  Madars Razma
54.  Jelle Klaasen
55.  Mickey Mansell
56.  Adam Hunt
57.  Callan Rydz
58.  Matthew Edgar
59.  Ted Evetts
60.  Josh Payne
61.  Jason Lowe
62.  James Wilson
63.  Mark McGeeney
64.  Cristo Reyes (withdrew)

Number 65–96 of the PDC Order of Merit (receiving byes into second round)

65.  Maik Kuivenhoven
66.  Jeff Smith
67.  Scott Waites
68.  Ryan Murray
69.  Martijn Kleermaker
70.  Wayne Jones
71.  Karel Sedláček
72.  Derk Telnekes
73.  Nick Kenny
74.  Andy Hamilton
75.  Mike De Decker
76.  Ryan Meikle
77.  Lisa Ashton
78.  Bradley Brooks
79.  William Borland
80.  Ciarán Teehan
81.  Alan Tabern
82.  Kai Fan Leung
83.  Jesús Noguera
84.  Raymond van Barneveld
85.  Krzysztof Kciuk
86.  Steve Brown
87.  Peter Jacques
88.  Martin Atkins
89.  Steffen Siepmann
90.  Gary Blades
91.  Alan Soutar
92.  Harald Leitinger
93.  Eddie Lovely
94.  Keane Barry
95.  Jonathan Worsley
96.  Aaron Beeney

Number 97–128 of the PDC Order of Merit (starting in first round)

97.  John Brown
98.  Gordon Mathers
99.  John Michael
100.  Jake Jones
101.  Kirk Shepherd
102.  Martin Schindler
103.  Lewy Williams
104.  Jack Main
105.  Berry van Peer
106.  Scott Mitchell
107.  Ritchie Edhouse
108.  Geert Nentjes
109.  Geert De Vos
110.  Martin Lukeman
111.  Danny Baggish
112.  Joe Murnan
113.  Peter Hudson
114.  Zoran Lerchbacher
115.  Adam Gawlas
116.  Boris Koltsov
117.  Brett Claydon
118.  Andrew Gilding
119.  David Evans
120.  Jason Heaver
121.  Florian Hempel (withdrew)
122.  Niels Zonneveld

PDC Development Tour qualifiers (starting in first round)

The top 8 ranked players from the 2020 Development Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.

1.  Damian Mol
2.  Kevin Doets
3.  Dom Taylor
4.  Joe Davis
5.  Keelan Kay
6.  Brian Raman
7.  Rhys Griffin
8.  Sebastian Białecki

PDC Challenge Tour qualifiers (starting in first round)

The top 8 ranked players from the 2020 Challenge Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.

1.  Matthew Dennant
2.  Jim Williams
3.  Rob Collins
4.  Maikel Verberk
5.  Jitse Van der Wal
6.  Nathan Rafferty
7.  Richie Burnett
8.  Scott Taylor

PDC UK Qualifying School qualifiers (starting in first round)

The top 8 ranked players from the 2021 UK Qualifying School Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.

1.  Chas Barstow
2.  Gavin Carlin
3.  Martin Thomas
4.  Kevin McDine
5.  Jim McEwan
6.  Shane McGuirk
7.  Matt Jackson
8.  Sean Fisher

PDC European Qualifying School qualifiers (starting in first round)

The top 8 ranked players from the 2021 European Qualifying School Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.

1.  Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
2.  Luc Peters
3.  Rowby-John Rodriguez
4.  Lorenzo Pronk
5.  Gino Vos
6.  Michael Rasztovits
7.  Ryan de Vreede
8.  Lukas Wenig

Draw

Friday 5 March

First round (best of eleven legs)

With the withdrawal of the six Tour Card holders, six players received a bye to the second round.

Player	Score	Player		Player	Score	Player
Rob Collins	w/o	Bye		David Evans	w/o	Bye
Andrew Gilding	w/o	Bye		Michael Rasztovits	w/o	Bye
Martin Thomas	w/o	Bye		Scott Mitchell	w/o	Bye
89.44 Rhys Griffin	6 – 5	Sean Fisher 92.68		84.19 Matt Jackson	3 – 6	Nathan Rafferty 85.13
81.12 Brett Claydon	3 – 6	Danny Baggish 88.68		81.55 Keelan Kay	5 – 6	Kevin McDine 89.93
89.02 Boris Koltsov	6 – 1	Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 87.38		98.44 Rowby-John Rodriguez	6 – 4	Brian Raman 91.95
88.19 Berry van Peer	5 – 6	Martin Schindler 92.06		Jitse Van der Wal	w/o	Florian Hempel
85.86 Geert De Vos	2 – 6	Niels Zonneveld 96.18		88.18 Martin Lukeman	4 – 6	Maikel Verberk 93.96
95.20 Scott Taylor	6 – 4	John Michael 86.79		92.09 Shane McGuirk	2 – 6	Jack Main 94.50
92.91 Jason Heaver	6 – 2	Lorenzo Pronk 81.14		86.05 Luc Peters	3 – 6	Lewy Williams 94.34
90.40 Jim McEwan	2 – 6	Sebastian Białecki 95.70		89.91 Chas Barstow	6 – 4	Lukas Wenig 90.66
85.59 Joe Murnan	6 – 2	Matthew Dennant 83.15		85.39 Joe Davis	3 – 6	Kevin Doets 89.66
87.84 Adam Gawlas	4 – 6	Gino Vos 94.61		92.19 Geert Nentjes	6 – 5	Richie Burnett 91.94
97.99 John Brown	6 – 4	Gavin Carlin 91.48		77.53 Jake Jones	5 – 6	Dom Taylor 81.52
96.50 Zoran Lerchbacher	5 – 6	Jim Williams 91.62		95.08 Gordon Mathers	3 – 6	Kirk Shepherd 100.06
96.70 Peter Hudson	6 – 1	Ryan de Vreede 88.22		90.27 Ritchie Edhouse	4 – 6	Damian Mol 92.22

Second round (best of eleven legs)

Player	Score	Player		Player	Score	Player
Scott Waites	w/o	Steve Brown		87.43 Scott Taylor	6 – 5	Maikel Verberk 87.96
94.69 Nick Kenny	6 – 5	Ryan Meikle 92.25		94.00 Ciarán Teehan	6 – 5	Danny Baggish 91.28
93.91 Lewy Williams	5 – 6	Scott Mitchell 91.10		81.97 Keane Barry	6 – 1	Geert Nentjes 76.60
80.96 Maik Kuivenhoven	6 – 4	Boris Koltsov 78.78		77.40 Kevin McDine	3 – 6	Rowby-John Rodriguez 85.00
87.99 Joe Murnan	3 – 6	Kai Fan Leung 91.03		86.04 Andy Hamilton	6 – 5	Damian Mol 80.31
93.60 Alan Soutar	6 – 3	Raymond van Barneveld 87.46		85.57 Jack Main	6 – 4	Rob Collins 86.56
93.05 Sebastian Białecki	6 – 3	Jitse Van der Wal 88.10		89.66 Chas Barstow	6 – 1	Martin Thomas 84.73
92.38 Michael Rasztovits	2 – 6	Peter Jacques 103.54		97.65 William Borland	4 – 6	Kevin Doets 98.43
86.71 Aaron Beeney	2 – 6	Lisa Ashton 100.34		96.05 Martin Atkins	6 – 3	Bradley Brooks 85.03
84.48 Jason Heaver	5 – 6	Eddie Lovely 83.31		81.58 Niels Zonneveld	2 – 6	Derk Telnekes 84.09
92.19 Jonathan Worsley	1 – 6	Andrew Gilding 97.78		82.43 Martijn Kleermaker	6 – 3	Wayne Jones 80.89
92.35 Peter Hudson	6 – 1	Jesús Noguera 80.45		101.79 Jim Williams	6 – 1	Kirk Shepherd 90.63
80.40 John Brown	6 – 5	Nathan Rafferty 76.61		70.59 Dom Taylor	0 – 6	Gary Blades 85.08
85.38 Steffen Siepmann	4 – 6	David Evans 83.05		88.35 Mike De Decker	4 – 6	Rhys Griffin 88.29
93.55 Alan Tabern	5 – 6	Gino Vos 92.66		92.87 Ryan Murray	2 – 6	Krzysztof Kciuk 93.89
88.19 Jeff Smith	1 – 6	Martin Schindler 95.75		72.00 Harald Leitinger	0 – 6	Karel Sedláček 87.55

Third round (best of eleven legs)

Player	Score	Player		Player	Score	Player
80.95 Lisa Ashton	2 – 6	Darius Labanauskas 85.45		85.99 Keane Barry	2 – 6	Luke Woodhouse 93.12
99.61 Max Hopp	6 – 3	William O'Connor 95.46		87.39 Kai Fan Leung	6 – 5	Nick Kenny 95.52
94.42 Scott Mitchell	6 – 3	Andrew Gilding 93.68		93.94 Karel Sedláček	6 – 0	Rhys Griffin 84.23
80.88 James Wilson	1 – 6	Keegan Brown 100.24		93.37 Steve West	1 – 6	Jason Lowe 93.27
97.36 Krzysztof Kciuk	5 – 6	Kim Huybrechts 98.00		87.22 Maik Kuivenhoven	1 – 6	Brendan Dolan 92.79
93.13 Jack Main	5 – 6	Ryan Searle 94.29		Ryan Joyce	w/o	Cristo Reyes
79.67 Mark McGeeney	6 – 5	Steve Beaton 85.59		88.84 Eddie Lovely	2 – 6	Ron Meulenkamp 96.07
95.09 Jim Williams	2 – 6	Madars Razma 97.48		87.00 Ted Evetts	4 – 6	Darren Webster 99.60
93.38 Martin Schindler	5 – 6	Martijn Kleermaker 95.03		Justin Pipe	w/o	Luke Humphries
92.75 John Henderson	6 – 5	Matthew Edgar 92.65		86.03 Scott Taylor	0 – 6	Adam Hunt 95.94
88.89 Rowby-John Rodriguez	6 – 5	Josh Payne 85.00		81.66 Damon Heta	1 – 6	David Evans 79.04
89.42 Kevin Doets	4 – 6	Steve Lennon 99.41		89.80 Sebastian Białecki	6 – 3	Derk Telnekes 90.89
97.77 Peter Hudson	6 – 1	Gino Vos 92.59		81.04 John Brown	6 – 3	Chas Barstow 84.35
101.70 Andy Boulton	6 – 3	Jelle Klaasen 91.34		99.32 Andy Hamilton	6 – 1	Gary Blades 84.39
95.91 Ross Smith	5 – 6	Callan Rydz 96.06		85.32 Peter Jacques	6 – 1	Ciarán Teehan 75.90
96.04 Martin Atkins	4 – 6	Scott Waites 101.94		103.88 Alan Soutar	6 – 3	Mickey Mansell 91.88

Fourth round (best of nineteen legs)

Player	Score	Player		Player	Score	Player
101.43 Daryl Gurney	10 – 8	Jason Lowe 99.30		103.55 Ryan Searle	10 – 7	Adrian Lewis 96.34
98.79 Max Hopp	10 – 6	Vincent van der Voort 99.51		90.53 John Brown	10 – 6	Mark McGeeney 83.89
86.41 Callan Rydz	10 – 6	Jermaine Wattimena 89.11		99.90 Jonny Clayton	10 – 7	Rowby-John Rodriguez 95.04
93.20 Darius Labanauskas	10 – 5	Darren Webster 89.08		99.19 Joe Cullen	9 – 10	Michael Smith 101.57
98.04 Ryan Joyce	9 – 10	James Wade 102.37		99.06 Michael van Gerwen	10 – 8	Scott Mitchell 95.05
94.35 Gerwyn Price	10 – 5	Peter Hudson 87.85		97.83 Ian White	7 – 10	Ricky Evans 97.79
92.06 Alan Soutar	10 – 5	Stephen Bunting 94.73		89.30 Kai Fan Leung	7 – 10	Brendan Dolan 97.18
94.25 Peter Wright	5 – 10	Dave Chisnall 100.11		89.50 Andy Hamilton	8 – 10	Rob Cross 92.56
87.37 Martijn Kleermaker	10 – 8	Jamie Hughes 84.73		90.28 Karel Sedláček	7 – 10	Simon Whitlock 98.45
101.66 Nathan Aspinall	5 – 10	Krzysztof Ratajski 102.57		93.72 Gary Anderson	9 – 10	Dirk van Duijvenbode 101.03
95.17 Devon Petersen	10 – 5	Jeffrey de Zwaan 91.48		95.52 Luke Woodhouse	10 – 5	Dimitri Van den Bergh 91.70
92.22 Andy Boulton	9 – 10	Peter Jacques 92.61		99.53 Mensur Suljović	10 – 6	Sebastian Białecki 93.48
97.50 Gabriel Clemens	10 – 4	Adam Hunt 93.69		102.45 Mervyn King	9 – 10	José de Sousa 97.98
93.01 Steve Lennon	7 – 10	Ron Meulenkamp 94.43		92.19 David Evans	6 – 10	Madars Razma 100.26
96.04 Scott Waites	10 – 6	Keegan Brown 87.34		91.51 John Henderson	6 – 10	Chris Dobey 95.13
89.61 Glen Durrant	6 – 10	Danny Noppert 95.02		99.85 Kim Huybrechts	8 – 10	Luke Humphries 99.29

Saturday 6 March

Fifth round (best of nineteen legs)

Player	Score	Player		Player	Score	Player
91.16 Scott Waites	5 – 10	Devon Petersen 94.01		95.07 Darius Labanauskas	9 – 10	Simon Whitlock 98.02
101.75 Rob Cross	7 – 10	James Wade 97.50		101.68 Luke Humphries	10 – 7	Ryan Searle 101.38
98.66 Gerwyn Price	10 – 3	Ricky Evans 92.37		90.30 Michael Smith	9 – 10	José de Sousa 93.17
86.65 Callan Rydz	6 – 10	Martijn Kleermaker 88.65		92.33 Alan Soutar	10 – 7	Ron Meulenkamp 93.73
99.31 Chris Dobey	10 – 1	John Brown 84.73		90.09 Luke Woodhouse	6 – 10	Brendan Dolan 93.61
93.49 Peter Jacques	10 – 9	Max Hopp 91.93		104.37 Dave Chisnall	10 – 7	Danny Noppert 99.40
103.78 Michael van Gerwen	10 – 4	Mensur Suljović 98.89		93.06 Daryl Gurney	7 – 10	Gabriel Clemens 100.86
108.39 Jonny Clayton	10 – 3	Dirk van Duijvenbode 99.07		100.55 Krzysztof Ratajski	10 – 8	Madars Razma 93.89

Sixth round (best of nineteen legs)

Player	Score	Player		Player	Score	Player
97.42 José de Sousa	9 – 10	Michael van Gerwen 99.72		90.11 Devon Petersen	10 – 4	Peter Jacques 88.20
89.36 Gabriel Clemens	5 – 10	James Wade 99.99		93.53 Luke Humphries	10 – 4	Martijn Kleermaker 82.11
94.04 Brendan Dolan	9 – 10	Simon Whitlock 98.78		101.31 Chris Dobey	5 – 10	Gerwyn Price 102.07
103.52 Krzysztof Ratajski	10 – 3	Jonny Clayton 96.05		99.52 Dave Chisnall	10 – 8	Alan Soutar 91.28

Sunday 7 March

Quarter-finals (best of nineteen legs)

Player	Score	Player
96.70 Simon Whitlock	8 – 10	James Wade 98.39
100.71 Gerwyn Price	10 – 9	Devon Petersen 98.21
96.07 Dave Chisnall	9 – 10	Luke Humphries 98.78
104.14 Krzysztof Ratajski	7 – 10	Michael van Gerwen 102.82

Semi-finals and Final

	Semi-finals (best of 21 legs)					Final (best of 21 legs)
	James Wade 97.63		11
	Gerwyn Price 96.68		6
						James Wade 102.52		11
						Luke Humphries 97.95		5
	Luke Humphries 107.41		11
	Michael van Gerwen 106.27		5