Shaun Fox, Graham Usher, Tom Sykes and Graham Hall confirmed their qualification for the 2025 Ladbrokes UK Open after winning through Monday’s Amateur Qualifiers in Milton Keynes.
In a change to previous years, qualifying events will be staged in four PDC in the Community venues alongside two days of standalone Amateur Qualifiers held by the PDC.
The first two Amateur Qualifiers were staged at the Arena MK on Monday, as over 200 players fought to secure a place in this year’s UK Open, which takes place from February 28 to March 2.
Fox and Usher came through Monday’s opening Qualifier, winning seven straight matches to confirm their place at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.
Fox – a storeman from Colchester – reeled off five straight legs to defeat Sykes and secure his second UK Open appearance, having made his debut as an Amateur Qualifier back in 2019.
The 35-year-old produced some superb performances throughout the afternoon, dumping out Kevin McDine and averaging 99 in a brilliant 4-2 win over former World Youth Champion Ted Evetts.
Former Tour Card Holder Usher will feature in his fourth UK Open next month, after he edged out Adam Mould to progress through Event One alongside Fox.
The 51-year-old also prevailed in deciding-leg ties against Tom Garfield and Kevin Burness, which he followed up with 4-2 wins over Ryan O’Connor and Chas Barstow.
Sykes and Hall then took centre stage in Event Two, courtesy of deciding-leg victories against Danny van Trijp and Tom Lonsdale in their decisive semi-final ties.
Sykes – a semi-finalist in Event One – went one better in Monday’s second event, overturning a 4-2 deficit to deny promising Dutchman Van Trijp and seal his UK Open debut.
The 32-year-old - a warehouse worker by trade - also registered a ton-plus average in his quarter-final win against Carl Batchelor, having earlier celebrated 4-3 wins over Christopher Brady-Foster and Callum Francis.
Hall, meanwhile, will make his fifth UK Open appearance in 2025, after conceding just eight legs in his seven matches across the event.
Hall– also a former Tour Card Holder – kicked off proceedings with a trio of whitewash victories, and he maintained that charge to secure an immediate return to Minehead.
The next two PDC Amateur Qualifiers will be held on Sunday February 9 in Wigan, with two players from each event progressing to the UK Open to find a total of eight automatic qualifiers.
The final four places will be allocated from an Amateur Qualifiers Points Table, based on performances across all four events.