Darts News - 2017 PDC UK Open Rileys Qualifiers
UK's Amateur Darts Players Invited to Enter the 2017 PDC UK Open Rileys Qualifiers
The Rileys Amateur Qualifiers for the 2017 PDC Coral UK Open will take place between 20 January and 11 February at 17 Rileys clubs across the UK. 32 qualifiers from the events will then advance to the 2017 PDC Coral UK Open Finals at Butlins Resort, Minehead in March.
Known as the FA Cup of Darts. It's the one chance a year that amateur darts players have to play on the professional stage.
Anyone can enter at: http://www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments/2017-pdc-uk-open-rileys-amateur-qualifiers
Entry costs £6 per Qualifier - including a free drink voucher– and players are permitted to compete in more than one of the knockouts.
The events attract a diverse range of darts players in terms of quality and it’s generally taken very seriously by the county players. For others, it’s a chance to discover a hidden talent or to put their skills to the test.
Rileys’ Business Excellence Manager Ben Pearce said: "The success of the qualifiers at the finals in Minehead last time was phenomenal and it’s all become a bit more surreal following those heroics. It’s the equivalent of your local non-league football club attempting to make it to the FA Cup proper and then causing a few upsets once they’ve made it there!"
In January 2016, Barry Lynn paid £6 to enter the qualifier at South Benfleet. Within a few weeks, he was playing against Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals of the UK Open on the main stage at Minehead and made himself £10,000 richer for his efforts. Pearce added "It really is the best opportunity for amateur players to realise their potential." Lynn even defeated the then World Champion Gary Anderson in the last 32.
More information about PDC UK Open Amateur Qualifiers at Rileys
Darts' most diverse tournament, colloquially known as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’, sees over 100 players from top professionals to rookie amateurs, come together at the Butlins Minehead Resort from 3rd to 5th March to compete in the Coral UK Open.
Rileys will be staging a series of knockout tournaments to produce the 32 Amateur Qualifiers for the 2017 tournament - meaning that anybody could qualify for this exciting championship, where play is held simultaneously across eight stages at the Butlins complex.
At the 2016 finals, Rileys Benfleet qualifier Barry Lynn famously progressed to the quarter-finals, where he was eventually defeated by world number one and eventual winner Michael van Gerwen on the main stage in Minehead. Lynn defeated the then World Champion Gary Anderson en route to the last eight.
Another notable triumph from Team Rileys included Rob Cross’ run to the last 32 before also succumbing to van Gerwen. In total, five Rileys qualifiers made it to round three. In 2017, it could be you!
Entry costs £6 per Qualifier - including a free drink voucher, or a £3.50 cashback voucher in Scotland - and players are permitted to compete in more than one of the knockouts.
Many venues will be hosting two events and both the London Victoria and Wolverhampton Rileys Sports Bars each providing two qualifiers from each of their two events.
Other Rileys Sports Bars to be hosting knockouts are listed below, with the Amateur Qualifiers to take place between 20th January and 11th February 2017.
Entries are being taken via www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments
Full Terms & Conditions and Tournament Rules are also available at the Rileys website.
Full dates are listed below…
2017 Rileys Amateur Qualifier Dates
- WEEK ONE
- WEEK TWO
- WEEK THREE
- WEEK FOUR
- Images of the Rileys Qualifiers at the 2016 Coral UK Open Finals
- LIVE BLOG: Team Rileys at the 2016 UK Open Finals
- Rileys Qualifiers 2016 - Who qualified last year?
- The 2016 UK Open Rileys Qualifiers - What Happened Next?