THE first seven Rileys Amateur Qualifiers for the Coral UK Open have been confirmed following the opening weekend of knockouts held in Rileys Sports Bars.
A total of 32 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers will compete in this year's Coral UK Open TV Finals at the Butlins Minehead Resort from March 3-5, where they compete against many of the sport's top names in the multi-board tournament.
Former professional Steve Maish, a seven-time World Championship qualifier, won through the Rileys Chester knockout to secure his 13th UK Open appearance this year.
Two-time UK Open qualifier Lee Evans, from Gloucestershire, will make his third appearance at Minehead in March after winning through the Rileys London Victoria qualifier alongside Dan Read, a 21-year-old from Berkshire who has previously competed on both the PDC's Challenge Tour and Development Tour.
Wokingham's Gary Eastwood, who qualified for the 2010 UK Open during a previous stint on the PDC circuit, won through the Rileys Twickenham knockout, while taxi driver Dave "The Badger" Prins won through at Rileys Sheffield to secure his third UK Open spot.
Staffordshire-based teacher Gareth Pass will return to the circuit four years after his last PDC appearance, at the 2013 UK Open, after winning through at Rileys Wolverhampton alongside Tividale's Neil Smith, who will be making his debut in a televised event in Minehead.
The Rileys Amateur Qualifiers continue with a further eight knockouts on January 28-29, with Rileys Sports Bars in Coventry, Greenock, Harlow, Liverpool, Norwich and Nottingham staging events on Saturday and Leicester and South Benfleet hosting qualifiers on Sunday.
Entries are being taken via www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments
Full Terms & Conditions and Tournament Rules are also available at the Rileys website.
Dates & Venues
Friday January 20
London Victoria (Two Players Qualify) - Lee Evans, Dan Read
Saturday January 21
Chester - Steve Maish
Sheffield - Dave Prins
Twickenham - Gary Eastwood
Wolverhampton (Two Players Qualify) - Gareth Pass, Neil Smith
Saturday January 28
Coventry
Greenock
Harlow
Liverpool
Norwich
Nottingham
Sunday January 29
Leicester
South Benfleet
Friday February 3
Aberdeen
Saturday February 4
Chester
Chorlton
Norwich
Sheffield
Wolverhampton (Two Players Qualify)
Sunday February 5
Coventry
London Victoria
South Benfleet
Worcester
Friday February 10
Nottingham
Saturday February 11
Greenock
Liverpool
Solihull
Twickenham ** Moved from original date of Saturday February 4 **