07/03/2021

2021 UK Open Darts preview & schedule: Sunday afternoon session featuring Van Gerwen versus Ratajski

Are Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price set for a reunion in the 2021 UK Open final?

All eyes are certainly on the world's top two, but as the UK Open reaches its thrilling conclusion, eight players all have a shot at glory in Milton Keynes. Van Gerwen and Price, along with James Wade, have tasted major success before. Simon Whitlock, Dave Chisnall, Devon Petersen, Krzysztof Ratajski and Luke Humphries are all just three games away from joining that winners' circle.

TV Guide ITV 4 for UK Open 2021

Simon Whitlock has played 55 legs at this year's UK Open, more than any of his fellow remaining quarter-finalists. It has been a real slog for the Aussie, whose 10-7 victory over Karel Sedlacek was a relative stroll in the park compared to last-leg wins over Darius Labanauskas and Brendan Dolan.

James Wade has also been pushed hard, but like Whitlock has prevailed thanks to impressive consistency. As is his fashion, the two-time UK Open champion has been deadly on the doubles, using the outer ring to bully Gabriel Clemens in his sixth round tie. Whitlock is the better scorer, but if Wade stays with him, the Wizard may not be granted the chance of another deciding leg.

Prize Money breakdown for the 2021 UK Open Darts with £450,000 on offer

Gerwyn Price is now in the trophy-hunting business. The World Championship, World Grand Prix and Grand Slam are in the bag, along with the World Cup and World Series Finals. A Matchplay win will be high on his agenda, but right now, it's all about the UK Open.

In each of his games, against Peter Hudson, Ricky Evans and Chris Dobey, Price has looked at first to be in for a long match, only to wear down his opponents with relentless scoring. Devon Petersen, therefore, has to guard against a Price onslaught. While he hasn't been at his stunning best yet this weekend, the African Warrior has likewise outrun every opponent, which will give him confidence even as the underdog.

Dave Chisnall's patented promising charge towards a big title normally ends at around this point. Chizzy has lost in 15 televised ranking quarter-finals, so often petering out when an elusive major seems within reach. Drawing the lowest ranked opponent in Luke Humphries is a poisoned chalice, in that it seems like his best chance to get to the last four, and yet is a mighty banana skin.

Humphries has technically been in the tournament for the longest of the last eight (he entered at the third round stage, but received a bye thanks to Justin Pipe's positive COVID test.) His quarter-final win against Martijn Kleermaker was a little tame, but the true show of his class came before that, against Kim Huybrechts and Ryan Searle. If he's firing, Humphries will be able to keep pace with one of the game's best scorers.

In a way, Michael van Gerwen's had the perfect draw. Beating Scott Mitchell, Mensur Suljovic and Jose de Sousa demands focus, and the Dutchman has laid down his title credentials with consistent excellence. He can't afford a dip now - especially not with Krzysztof Ratajski laying in wait.

The Pole was only getting warmed up when he sent 2019 champion Nathan Aspinall packing. Wins over the in-form Madars Razma and red-hot Jonny Clayton were similarly spectacular in style, giving Ratajski a tournament average to compete with the best of them. If he can find a way to stun the reigning champion, perhaps we're mere hours from a first Polish major champion in the PDC. And wouldn't that be just the story to kick off the 2021 major schedule?