Richie Burnett rolls back the years to reach UK Open Quarter-Finals
Richie Burnett rolled back the years to dump Peter Wright out of the UK Open and end his nine-year wait for a televised ranking Quarter-Final on Saturday.
Welsh veteran Burnett continued his fairy-tale run in Minehead, defeating 2017 champion Wright 10-8 in a dramatic Main Stage clash.
The 56-year-old recovered from 7-5 down to edge out Ted Evetts in afternoon’s Fifth Round, before producing a clinical display to stun two-time World Champion Wright in a topsy-turvy Last 16 tie.
“I’m a tough old cookie. I love this game – I really do,” said Burnett, who beat Wright on his way to winning the 1995 Lakeside Championship.
“I was 7-3 up and I started thinking about it, but that’s natural. Peter’s at the top of the game, he’s a Premier League player, so it’s a big win for me.
“I haven’t been in that situation for a while, but experience got me through in the end. I’ve been an idiot over the years, I’ve really underachieved. I’m just making up for lost time.
“I’ve earned two fortunes and spent three.”
Meanwhile, three-time champion Michael van Gerwen swept aside Luke Humphries in imperious fashion to book his place in the Last Eight, averaging 104 to cap off an outstanding display.
The Dutchman reeled off seven straight legs from 6-3 down to overcome his compatriot Martijn Kleermaker earlier in the day, before comfortably dispatching 2021 runner-up Humphries.
Van Gerwen fired in a majestic 170 checkout in leg three, which set the tone for a dominant display against the world number five, and he maintained his blistering form to continue his bid for the £110,000 title.
“You just need to focus on your own performance and that’s all you can do,” reflected Van Gerwen.
“There is still a long way to go. I’m only in the quarter-finals and I’m looking forward to my next game.
“They are long days at the UK Open, but I like it, I’m up for it. I love what I do, I love playing on the big stage and that is what makes me happy.”
Nathan Aspinall is one of only two former champions left in the field, and he preserved his hopes of lifting a second UK Open crown with wins over Dirk van Duijvenbode and Joe Cullen.
Aspinall overturned an early 3-1 deficit and defied 12 maximums from Van Duijvenbode to secure a thrilling 10-8 victory, before punishing a below-par display from Cullen to storm to a 10-2 success.
“I had not won here since I won the UK Open and now I’m in the quarter-finals, so I’m taking the positives,” reflected Aspinall, who claimed glory in 2019 and now plays Van Gerwen in the stand-out Quarter-Final tie.
“I think I dug deep and controlled the game. I wasn’t playing well but I took out some important shots. Joe is a fantastic player so I’m very happy to get the win.”
Dimitri Van den Bergh moved through to his second UK Open Quarter-Final – where he will face Burnett – after sealing dramatic 10-8 wins over veteran duo Mervyn King and Gary Anderson.
Van den Bergh recovered from 6-5 behind to dispatch King, before surviving a scare to see off 2018 champion Anderson – who had fought back from 6-2 down to restore parity at eight apiece.
“I’m in disbelief – I never gave up,” said an emotional Van den Bergh, who produced clinical 81, 86, 120, 121 combination finishes to defy a 99 average from the Scot.
“I fell to my knees for a reason at the end – it was a massive win. I took my chances in the end and that’s what I practice and prepare for. It could have been different, but I’m in the quarter-finals.”
Rob Cross maintained his charge on Day Two, following up a resounding win over Steve Beaton with an impressive comeback victory against a resurgent Jeffrey de Zwaan.
Having edged out two-time winner Raymond van Barneveld in a fourth round decider, 2019 runner-up Cross wrapped up a 10-3 rout of Beaton, before overhauling a 4-2 deficit to dump out De Zwaan.
Martin Schindler continued his big stage progress by dumping out 2014 champion Adrian Lewis and Premier League star Jonny Clayton to advance to a first televised ranking Quarter-Final.
The German ace averaged 101 in 10-5 triumph over two-time World Champion Lewis, before keeping his cool to sink Clayton, landing finishes of 102, 108 and 115 in the process.
Schindler will open Sunday afternoon’s action against 2015 semi-finalist Andrew Gilding – who continued his UK Open love-affair to move through to the Last Eight with hard-fought wins against Luke Woodhouse and Brendan Dolan.
Gilding made his big stage arrival with a run to the Semi-Finals eight years ago, and after accounting for Woodhouse, he reeled off five straight legs from 8-5 adrift to deny Dolan in the Last 16.
Elsewhere, Adam Gawlas created history by becoming the first Czech player to progress to the Quarter-Finals of a PDC televised event, where he now faces Cross.
The 21-year-old came through a nervy fifth round tie against Kevin Doets, before averaging 99 and converting 56 per cent of his attempts at double to demolish William O’Connor 10-3.
Saturday’s afternoon session saw a host of big names exit in Minehead, as reigning champion Danny Noppert joined Premier League trio Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey in crashing out at the Fifth Round stage.
Noppert was edged out by O’Connor in a high-quality deciding leg tie, while World Champion Smith succumbed in similar fashion to 2021 runner-up Humphries, in a contest featuring 20 maximums.
Two-time finalist Price was beaten by an inspired De Zwaan, who averaged 105 and landed ten 180s to close out a 10-8 victory, recovering from 4-0 down and reeling off seven straight legs midway through the tie.
Meanwhile, Masters champion Dobey was beaten 10-6 by Brendan Dolan, with 2014 champion Lewis losing out to a superb Schindler at the same stage.
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UK Open 2023 Day Two Results
Saturday March 4
Afternoon Session
Last 32
Main Stage
Gerwyn Price 8-10 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Michael Smith 9-10 Luke Humphries
Martijn Kleermaker 6-10 Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright 10-8 Callan Rydz
Stage Two
William O’Connor 10-9 Danny Noppert
Kim Huybrechts 2-10 Gary Anderson
Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-10 Nathan Aspinall
Mervyn King 8-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Stage Three
Richie Burnett 10-9 Ted Evetts
Adrian Lewis 5-10 Martin Schindler
Joe Cullen 10-5 Karel Sedlacek
Jonny Clayton 10-3 Jose de Sousa
Stage Four
Adam Gawlas 10-8 Kevin Doets
Luke Woodhouse 5-10 Andrew Gilding
Chris Dobey 6-10 Brendan Dolan
Steve Beaton 3-10 Rob Cross
Last 16
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Main Stage
Nathan Aspinall 10-2 Joe Cullen
Peter Wright 8-10 Richie Burnett
Gary Anderson 8-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen 10-4 Luke Humphries
Stage Two
Brendan Dolan 8-10 Andrew Gilding
William O’Connor 3-10 Adam Gawlas
Jonny Clayton 8-10 Martin Schindler
Jeffrey de Zwaan 7-10 Rob Cross
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