2018 UK Open preview and schedule: Day One

The UK Open has not yet started, and the biggest winner of the weekend is already known.

Nobody will knock out more players in Minehead than Storm Emma has. The heavy snow has decimated the field, but the show must go on. The 'FA Cup of Darts' has a propensity for shocks that no other major can match. Michael van Gerwen is the clear favourite, but anything can happen. Those who have made it will make the UK Open another truly memorable weekend.
The afternoon session of day one sees the first two rounds played. Then, in the evening, the top 32 seeds enter. An open draw will decide the fate of the remaining 64 players.
There are some intriguing ties in store. Paul Nicholson and Terry Jenkins should open the show in style, while two-time world champion John Part playing Riley's qualifier John Morris is a fairytale fixture. Cristo Reyes and Benito van de Pas, two top players in poor form, should contest an intriguing clash. Round two sees more big names entering, including a couple of Premier League stars. Gerwyn Price takes on James Wilson, the man he thrashed at the same stage in the 2018 World Championship. Raymond van Barneveld faces the challenge of Mike Norton, and Alan Norris goes head-to-head with Dirk van Duijvenbode. Former world finalist Andy Hamilton enters as an amateur, and plays Jermaine Wattimena in a fascinating second round clash. Meanwhile, Dimitri van den Bergh faces a tough tie against Chris Dobey, should he make it to round two.
Afternoon Session (12pm start)

First Round

Main Stage

Paul Nicholson v Terry Jenkins
Ryan Harrington v Richie Burnett
Lee Evans v Dimitri Van den Bergh
John Morris v John Part

Stage Two

Mark Walsh v Alex Roy
Cristo Reyes v Benito van de Pas
BYE v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dan Read v Joe Davis

Board Three

BYE v Michael Burgoine
Rene Eidams v Andrew Johnson
Michael Barnard v BYE
Bradley Brooks v Chris Quantock

Board Four

Andrew Pullen v Mark Rice
Simon Tate v Michael Rasztovits
Liam Kelly v Luke Humphries
Robert Rickwood v BYE

Board Five

Daniel Lee v Harry Ward
Kirk Shepherd v Adam Hunt
Mickey Mansell v Ryan Meikle
Darryl Pilgrim v Ian Jopling

Board Six

Benjamin McClelland v David Airey
Chris Lacey v Martin Biggs
Ricky Evans v Andreas Hajiminia
Cody Harris v Tony Mitchell

Board Seven

Craig Winstanley v Mark Craddock
Andy Hamilton v BYE
Martin Atkins v Paul Whitworth
Darren Brown v Paul Hogan

Board Eight

Ron Meulenkamp v Andy Hibbert
George Killington v Andy Jenkins
Jason Mold v Prakash Jiwa
Darren Johnson v John Scott

Second Round

Main Stage

Toni Alcinas v Walsh/Roy
James Wilson v Gerwyn Price
Alan Norris v Dirk Van Duijvenbode
Mike Norton v Raymond van Barneveld

Stage Two

Vincent van der Voort v Lacey/Biggs
Danny Noppert v Harrington/Burnett
Dave Chisnall v Eidams/Johnson
Stephen Bunting v Brooks/Quantock

Board Three

Richard North v Nicholson/T Jenkins
Reyes/Van de Pas v David Evans
L Evans/Van den Bergh v Chris Dobey
BYE v Brown/Hogan

Board Four

Stuart Kellett v McClelland/Airey
Vincent Kamphuis v Shepherd/Hunt
Mold/Jiwa v Nathan Rafferty
Pilgrim/Jopling v Geert Nentjes

Board Five

Robert Owen v Davidson/Burgoine
Andy Hamilton v Jermaine Wattimena
Kelly/Humphries v Wayne Jones
Atkins/Whitworth v Morris/Part

Board Six

Jose Justicia v Joe Cullen
Keegan Brown v Killington/A Jenkins
Andrew Gilding v Gabriel Clemens
Jason Lowe v Johnson/Scott

Board Seven

Nathan Aspinall v Pullen/Rice
Carl Wilkinson v R Evans/Hajiminia
Harris/Mitchell v Michael Barnard
Meulenkamp/Hibbert v Read/Davis

Board Eight

Lee/Ward v Ted Evetts
BYE v Tate/Rasztovits
Mansell/Meikle v Winstanley/Craddock
James Richardson v Robert Rickwood