The UK Open Darts 2025 tournament is underway at Butlin's Minehead Resort, showcasing another day of thrilling matches as players vie for the coveted title and share of the £600,000 prize fund. The tournament, known as the ‘FA Cup of Darts,’ runs from February 28 to March 2, featuring the largest player field on the PDC calendar.
The action continued on March 1, with the fifth and sixth rounds set to determine the quarter-final lineup.
Livestreams of the tournament are accessible on ITV4 and ITV3 for UK viewers, with streaming for international audiences through platforms like DAZN, Viaplay, and PDCTV. Commentary is provided by well-known darts commentators Paul Nicholson and Dan McCarthy.
During the afternoon session of March 1, former champions faced unexpected exits. Notably, Michael van Gerwen, the world number three and three-time UK Open winner, suffered defeat against Rob Owen after missing 26 doubles. The match ended with Owen claiming victory with a score of 10-8. Elsewhere, reigning champion Dimitri Van den Bergh narrowly edged past Chris Dobey 10-9 to progress.
Wave after wave of excitement marked the matches as Luke Humphries cruised to victory over Ryan Searle with a flawless 10-0 scoreline. Luke Littler, who has been making headlines throughout the tournament, comfortably defeated Jermaine Wattimena 10-4, solidifying his place in the sixth round.
The afternoon round was filled with upsets and close finishes. Other notable matches included:
- Josh Rock defeating Ross Smith 10-9
- Rob Cross overcoming Danny Noppert 10-9
- Krzysztof Ratajski edging past Dave Chisnall with 10-8
- Alan Soutar winning against Jonny Clayton 10-7
- Madars Razma facing off against Michael Smith
Following the afternoon matches, the spotlight shifted to the evening session, packed with anticipation and high stakes, as the sixth round commenced. The highlight matches included Michael Smith against Dimitri Van den Bergh, Ryan Joyce versus Luke Humphries, and Krzysztof Ratajski facing Luke Littler, showcasing some intense darts.
With the tournament positioned as one of the most unpredictable on the darts calendar due to its open draw nature, many players, including lower-ranked competitors, have excelled under pressure. Fans have witnessed the rise of players like Beau Greaves, who made history as the first woman to win three consecutive matches, defeating Stefan Bellmont, Rhys Griffin, and Mickey Mansell before bowing out to the experienced Luke Humphries.
Humphries showed immense respect toward Greaves, stating, "Beau belongs in big-time darts,” highlighting how women’s darts have evolved and grown, thanks to her contributions. "She is a fantastic player, and her performance brings out the best competition. If it had been a Premier League game, she would have beaten me." Curling applause from the audience as Greaves left the stage emphasized the significant milestone she achieved.
Meanwhile, Luke Littler proved his mettle against Peter Wright, surviving intense pressure to edge the match 10-9 after another gripping battle. Wright took several legs with impressive checkouts, but Littler’s youthful resolve kept him in contention. His performance included scoring averages over 108 during clutch moments, demonstrating his readiness for championship darts.
By the time the last leg concluded, it was evident the UK Open thrives on its unique format and unpredictable nature—a hallmark of this cherished tournament. With several pivotal matches on the horizon, fans can expect more surprises as the quarter-finalists are finalized.
Looking forward, the stakes are higher than ever as the competition progresses toward the final. With £110,000 awaiting the tournament's champion, every player remaining has their eyes set on glory. The quarter-finals are set, with surprise upsets being the order of the day, making it anyone's game. From the excitement witnessed today through the rollercoaster of emotions at Minehead, one thing remains clear: the Ladbrokes UK Open promises thrilling darts until the last dart is thrown.
The prize fund breakdown for the event shows just how lucrative this tournament can be for players:
Winner: £110,000
Runner-up: £50,000
Semi-finalists: £30,000
Quarter-finalists: £15,000
Last 16: £10,000
Last 32: £5,000
Last 64: £2,500
Last 96: £1,500
Last 128: £1,000
Total prize fund: £600,000