Ladbrokes UK Open 2026 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play

The 2026 UK Open reaches its business end at Butlins Minehead on Saturday, with 32 players set to be whittled down to just eight by the end of play.

The most frenetic day of the darting calendar saw 125 matches contested across eight stages on a marathon Friday, as the 157-player field was whittled down to 32.

It was 2022 champion Danny Noppert who stole the headlines with a moment of magic on Stage Two, wrapping up a dominant 10-4 win over 2024 champion Van den Bergh with a nine-dart finish.

Noppert, whose perfect leg marked the 16th in UK Open history and the first in the event since 2022, now comes up against 2017 champion Peter Wright on Stage Two.

A resurgent Wright registered successive wins in a televised ranking event for the first time in over a year when he saw off Darius Labanauskas and Cameron Menzies on Friday to provisionally climb back into the world’s top 32.

Reigning champion Luke Littler steps up the defence of his title with a showdown against Dutch ace Kevin Doets.

Littler, the recent Poland Darts Open champion, roared back to winning ways in the Premier League in Cardiff on Thursday, before thrashing Damon Heta 10-3 less than 24 hours later.

Doets, who reached the Last 16 of December’s World Championship, overcame Ricardo Pietreczko and Jeffrey De Graaf on Day One to set up a blockbuster date on the main stage.

World number two Luke Humphries resumes his bid for a maiden UK Open crown with a tie against 2012 semi-finalist Dave Chisnall.

Humphries set his stall out in style with a 105 average to thrash Luke Woodhouse 10-3 on Friday night, while Chisnall saw off Scotland’s Scott Campbell 10-5 and is out to avenge his defeat to the 2024 World Champion in the recent World Masters.

The main stage action commences with a tie between 2018 champion Gary Anderson and German number one Martin Schindler.

Anderson produced the stand-out performance of the opening day by averaging 107.4 in a 10-6 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode on Stage Two.

Schindler, meanwhile, shrugged off his early season struggles by dispatching Joe Cullen 10-8 with a 97.3 average.

Another blockbuster clash sees former World Champion Gerwyn Price take on emerging Dutch star Wessel Nijman.

Price, UK Open runner-up in 2017 and 2020, opened up with a routine 10-3 victory over Greg Ritchie, while Nijman obliterated his legendary compatriot Raymond van Barneveld 10-1 on the outer boards with a 102.4 average.

Stage Two features 2019 runner-up Rob Cross looking to back up Friday’s superb win over Gian van Veen when he faces 2024 World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker.

Premier League leader Jonny Clayton, who thrashed Alexander Merkx 10-2 in his opener, now faces Darryl Pilgrim – who knocked out Beau Greaves en route to this stage.

Three-time UK Open champion Michael van Gerwen came through a formidable opener 10-8 against Nathan Aspinall in Round Four, and the Dutchman now meets world number 91 Kai Gotthardt – the lowest ranked Tour Card holder left standing in the competition.

World Cup of Darts winner Josh Rock, who held his nerve in a deciding leg to deny William O’Connor on Friday, takes on German underdog Dominik Gruellich on Stage Three.

Former major champions Ross Smith and Daryl Gurney also go head-to-head, before former Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic meets Premier League star Stephen Bunting.

Keane Barry, UK Open semi-finalist in 2022, takes on multiple major semi-finalist Ryan Joyce – who saw off Charlie Manby in his opener.

Former World Champion and 2022 UK Open finalist Michael Smith takes on World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle in the pick of the fixtures on Stage Four.

Three-time UK Open champion James Wade, who edged out Chris Dobey in a decider on Friday, takes on former World Championship semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens.

Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski faces Swedish underdog Oskar Lukasiak, while Latvian star Madars Razma meets former Grand Slam finalist Martin Lukeman.

The action gets under way from 1pm GMT, with Last 32 and Last 16 ties to be contested over the best of 19 legs.

The draw for the evening’s Last 16 will be made live on the main stage following the conclusion of the Fifth Round.

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UK Open 2026 Day Two Schedule of Play

Saturday March 7

Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)

Last 32

Main Stage
Gary Anderson v Martin Schindler
Wessel Nijman v Gerwyn Price
Kevin Doets v Luke Littler
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall

Stage Two
Darryl Pilgrim v Jonny Clayton
Peter Wright v Danny Noppert
Mike De Decker v Rob Cross
Kai Gotthardt v Michael van Gerwen

Stage Three
Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
Mensur Suljovic v Stephen Bunting
Josh Rock v Dominik Gruellich
Ryan Joyce v Keane Barry

Stage Four
Martin Lukeman v Madars Razma
Gabriel Clemens v James Wade
Oskar Lukasiak v Krzysztof Ratajski
Ryan Searle v Michael Smith

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)

Last 16 matches