Double chance for the UK Open at Rileys
Aspiring throwers have again landed a chance to play the pros in 'the FA Cup of darts' for the price of a pint - and there are two places on offer per event this time.
Wolverhampton's Rileys Sports Bar will stage two open qualifiers with the grand prize spots at the PDC's UK Open
The 128-player field is made up of the top 96 in the UK Open Order of Merit, played between the pros, and 32 wildcards who have come from Rileys clubs.
And four of those 32 will be generated at the Black Country's Rileys, with both winning semi-finalists going on to Minehead.
Only Wolverhampton and Rileys' flagship venue, London Victoria, will have four UK Open places available over two events. Eight others have two, with another eight granted one.
The grand finals will be staged at Butlins for three days from Friday March 4, with the ITV4 cameras broadcasting one of the PDC's major tournaments live.
Rileys qualifiers could share the oche with the PDC's top stars such as Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor in the later stages, if they go on a run past the preliminary round.
The first UK Open tickets to be contested at the Wolverhampton Rileys, Broad Street, come on Saturday, with the second event to follow on February 20.
It's the fourth time UK Open qualifiers have been staged there, with Andy Roberts and Dean Stewart the first to win the two events in 2012.
Stewart nabbed another place, with Ian Jones the other winner, in 2014 with Stuart White and Matthew Tedstone prevailing last year.
White and Tedstone were then drawn together at Minehead in a preliminary tie, with White winning a last leg decider 5-4 before bowing out 5-3 to Matt Padgett in the first round proper.
Anybody aged 16 or over (on January 1) can compete in the qualifiers, but you cannot enter on the day. The online cut-off is 48 hours before the event at www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments.
You can also apply in person at the venue or over the telephone up until midnight the previous day. Wolverhampton Rileys is on 01902 310 521. Entry is just £6, including a free drink.
There is a strict dress code of trousers, shoes and either a shirt or polo shirt. Those who were a part of the PDC's Qualifying School last week cannot enter.
Doors will open at 10am, with registration up until midday. The draw will be made at 12.30pm, with the first darters toeing the oche at 1pm
