The 2023 Cazoo UK Open begins on Friday at Butlin's Minehead Resort, as Danny Noppert begins his defence of the coveted title amongst a 158-player field in the annual festival of darts.
The unique multi-board event, which takes place from March 3-5, will see PDC Tour Card Holders compete for the £110,000 top prize against players from the Challenge Tour, Development Tour and Rileys Amateur Qualifiers.
The opening day will see all 158 players in action, as the first four rounds take place across eight stages, with Friday’s bumper afternoon session getting underway from 1100 GMT.
The first round will feature Tour Card Holders ranked 97-126, along with players from the 2022 Challenge and Development Tours, plus 16 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers.
The first round winners will be joined by Tour Card Holders ranked 65-96 in round two, with the 32 second round winners joined by Tour Card Holders ranked 33-64 in round three.
The world’s top 32 enter the fray in Friday evening’s fourth round, including reigning champion Noppert, three-time winner Michael van Gerwen and World Champion Michael Smith, the runner-up 12 months ago.
Former champions Peter Wright, James Wade, Nathan Aspinall, Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld will also enter at the fourth round stage, in what is set to be a blockbuster opening night.
Last year’s tournament saw Noppert clinch his maiden PDC televised title in a dramatic final, after the Dutchman survived a match dart before producing a 13-dart break to deny Smith in a last-leg shoot-out.
Noppert has since established himself within the world’s top eight after reaching a further two televised semi-finals in 2022, and is in confident mood ahead of his title defence.
“Last year it was really special to win the title," reflected Noppert, who became the fourth Dutch player to celebrate UK Open success.
“I don’t want to put myself under too much pressure this weekend, but it’s a nice tournament for me and I’m excited to be back.
“Not every dart player can say that they’ve won a title on TV so it was a great moment for me.
“That win gave me a lot of belief. I think I had a good year and I was a lot more confident in the televised tournaments, because winning gives you more self-belief.”
Elsewhere, 2021 runner-up Luke Humphries will also enter this year’s event in round four, having catapulted himself into the world’s top five following a breakthrough 2022 campaign.
The 28-year-old scooped four European Tour titles last year to reaffirm his big stage credentials, and he’s bidding to cement his progress by landing a first televised ranking title in the South West.
“Winning a big TV title is the next step for me,” said Humphries, who was beaten by three-time champion Wade in the 2021 decider.
“I have won everything else, so the next step is to win that major title. I’m going to keep searching for it, and if I turn up and play like I can at any TV event, it can happen.
“I love playing at Minehead. I made the final of the UK Open in 2021 and the semi-finals of the Players Championship Finals last year, so hopefully my good record at Butlin’s continues!
“It would be a big statement if I could pick up that title this weekend. I’m playing well, my performances have been there, so it’s a great opportunity for me.”
Two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis won the event’s first staging at Minehead in 2014, and he will begin his campaign in round three against Joe Murnan on Friday afternoon.
The Stoke-on-Trent star will celebrate his 20th UK Open appearance this weekend, and is hoping to mark the milestone in style following a frustrating start to 2023.
“I think I’ve got a running average of 97 this season and I’ve only picked up a few wins, but that’s darts,” conceded Lewis, one of eight former champions in this year’s field.
“I believe my luck will change, so I’m going to keep working hard and try to maintain the consistency that I’ve shown in my performances so far this year.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend. I love the UK Open. The open draw is exciting and it’s a tournament that holds fond memories for me.
“I would love to win this again. It’s one of the hardest titles to win and it would give me so much confidence. I’d be over the moon!”
Following the conclusion of Friday afternoon’s third round action, an open draw will be made live on the Main Stage for round four, with further draws to be made following each subsequent round.
The action will continue on Saturday March 4 with the fifth and sixth rounds across two sessions, before the Main Stage will play host to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final on Sunday.
This year’s Cazoo UK Open will see prize money increased by £150,000 to a total of £600,000 - including £110,000 to the eventual champion, with the tournament also paying down to the last 128 for the first time.
Main Stage matches across all three days will be broadcast live on ITV4 for UK viewers, through the PDC's international broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers.
Stage Two action on Friday and Saturday will be streamed exclusively for all PDCTV Subscribers worldwide, with commentary from Dan McCarthy and Paul Nicholson.
In addition, matches from Stages Three to Eight will be live on PDCTV on Friday and Saturday, meaning that for the first time in UK Open history, every match of the tournament will be broadcast live.
2023 Cazoo UK Open
Schedule of Play
Friday March 3
Afternoon Session (1100 GMT, Main Stage from 1145 GMT)
Main Stage
(2x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Luke Littler v Nick Fullwell (R1)
Jelle Klaasen v Josh Payne (R1)
Danny Jansen v Bradley Brooks (R2)
Connor Scutt v Jimmy Hendriks (R2)
James Richardson/Tricole v Richie Burnett (R2)
Keegan Brown v Girvan/Zonneveld (R2)
Adrian Lewis v Joe Murnan (R3)
Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse (R3)
Montgomery/Jenkins/Warner v Simon Whitlock (R3)
Stage Two
(4x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Gian van Veen v Robert Owen (R1)
James Richardson v Thibault Tricole (R1)
Lukas Wenig v Jeffrey de Zwaan (R1)
Sebastian Bialecki v Joshua Richardson (R1)
Jules van Dongen v Kevin Doets (R2)
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez v Littler/Fullwell (R2)
Matt Campbell v Van Trijp/Holt (R2)
Labre/Klose v Mario Vandenbogaerde (R2)
Florian Hempel v Jamie Hughes (R3)
Boris Krcmar v Jermaine Wattimena (R3)
Steve Beaton v Scutt/Hendriks (R3)
Scott Williams v Klaasen/Payne/Pietreczko (R3)
Stage Three
(4x R1, 4x R2, 5x R3)
Jurjen van der Velde v Brett Claydon (R1)
Geert Nentjes v Christian Kist (R1)
Arron Monk v Vladimir Andersen (R1)
Dan Read v Callum Loose (R1)
Jose Justicia v Mickey Mansell (R2)
Cameron Menzies v Moston/Neyens (R2)
Ted Evetts v McEwan/Lauby (R2)
L Gurney/Pilgrim v Burton/Smith-Neale (R2)
William O'Connor v Devon Petersen (R3)
Lewy Williams v Jansen/Brooks (R3)
Van Dongen/Doets v Szaganski/Kciuk (R3)
Labre/Klose/Vandenbogaerde v Adam Gawlas (R3)
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez/Littler/Fullwell v Ritchie Edhouse (R3)
Stage Four
(4x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Conor Heneghan v Daniel Lee (R1)
Graham Hall v Jeffrey Sparidaans (R1)
Jacques Labre v Daniel Klose (R1)
Karel Sedlacek v Harry Lane (R1)
Luc Peters v James Wilson (R2)
Damian Mol v Davey/L Evans (R2)
Read/Loose v Brian Raman (R2)
Bialecki/Joshua Richardson v White/Roelofs (R2)
Ryan Joyce v Mike De Decker (R3)
Menzies/Moston/Neyens v Ian White (R3)
Jim Williams v Van Veen/Owen/Waites (R3)
Slevin/Kuivenhoven/Wilkinson v Monk/Andersen/Goffin/Knops (R3)
Stage Five
(4x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Andy Jenkins v Adam Warner (R1)
Noel Grant v Graham Usher (R1)
Nathan Girvan v Niels Zonneveld (R1)
Michael Flynn v Jonathan Wynn (R1)
Richard Veenstra v Jamie Clark (R2)
Taylor/Webster v Tony Martinez (R2)
Heneghan/Lee v Rupprecht/Kenny (R2)
Hall/Sparidaans v Thomas Banks (R2)
Martijn Kleermaker v Steve Lennon (R3)
Martin Lukeman v Read/Loose/Raman (R3)
Madars Razma v Cole/Van der Wal/Killington (R3)
James Richardson/Tricole/Burnett v Van der Velde/Claydon/R Huybrechts (R3)
Stage Six
(4x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Callum Goffin v Robbie Knops (R1)
Pascal Rupprecht v Nick Kenny (R1)
Jarred Cole v Jitse Van der Wal (R1)
Jim McEwan v Danny Lauby (R1)
Kevin Burness v Nathan Rafferty (R2)
Grant/Usher v John O'Shea (R2)
Wenig/De Zwaan v Nentjes/Kist (R2)
Klaasen/Payne v Ricardo Pietreczko (R2)
Mensur Suljovic v Justicia/Mansell (R3)
Keane Barry v Mol/Davey/L Evans (R3)
Jeff Smith v Campbell/Van Trijp/Holt (R3)
Flynn/Wynn/Sedlacek/Lane v L Gurney/Pilgrim/Burton/Smith-Neale (R3)
Stage Seven
(4x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Jim Moston v Kenny Neyens (R1)
Dylan Slevin v Maik Kuivenhoven (R1)
Gary Davey v Lee Evans (R1)
Danny van Trijp v Christopher Holt (R1)
Radek Szaganski v Krzysztof Kciuk (R2)
Van Veen/Owen v Scott Waites (R2)
Van der Velde/Claydon v Ronny Huybrechts (R2)
Flynn/Wynn v Sedlacek/Lane (R2)
Ryan Meikle v Burness/Rafferty (R3)
Andrew Gilding v Taylor/Webster/Martinez (R3)
Brown/Girvan/Zonneveld v Darius Labanauskas (R3)
Evetts/McEwan/Lauby v Bialecki/Joshua Richardson/S White/Roelofs (R3)
Stage Eight
(4x R1, 4x R2, 4x R3)
Dom Taylor v Darren Webster (R1)
Lewis Gurney v Darryl Pilgrim (R1)
Stuart White v Owen Roelofs (R1)
Stephen Burton v Adam Smith-Neale (R1)
Ross Montgomery v Jenkins/Warner (R2)
Slevin/Kuivenhoven v Shaun Wilkinson (R2)
Cole/Van der Wal v George Killington (R2)
Monk/Andersen v Goffin/Knops (R2)
Veenstra/Clark v Rowby-John Rodriguez (R3)
Ricky Evans v Grant/Usher/O'Shea (R3)
Wenig/De Zwaan/Nentjes/Kist v Peters/Wilson (R3)
Hall/Sparidaans/Banks v Heneghan/Lee/Rupprecht/Kenny (R3)
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Fourth Round
Play across eight stages
Saturday March 4
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)
Fifth Round
Play across four stages
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Sixth Round
Play across two stages
Sunday March 5
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Final
Stages will be located as follows:
Skyline Pavilion: Main Stage (All days)
Studio 36: Stage Two (Friday and Saturday)
Centre Stage: Stages Three-Eight (Friday and Saturday)
Format
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
Third Round (Best of 11 legs)
Fourth Round (Best of 19 legs)
Fifth Round (Best of 19 legs)
Sixth Round (Best of 19 legs)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
Semi-Finals (Best of 21 legs)
Final (Best of 21 legs)
2023 Cazoo UK Open
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: £600,000