Amateur players invited into PDC Coral UK Open Qualifiers

Win cash prizes up to £60K 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 (or £3.50 cashback voucher in Scotland) – 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.