2021 UK Open Stage Allocations confirmed: Van Barneveld set for televised return against Soutar

The stage allocations have been confirmed ahead of the UK Open this weekend which is set to take place at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

Raymond van Barneveld will make his return to televised darts for the first time since his disappointing World Championship when he faces Alan Soutar in one of nine main stage games on Friday afternoon.

The TV ties begin with two first round clashes with former World Youth Championship finalists, Berry van Peer and Martin Schindler opening proceedings.

While Danny Baggish after his remarkable Tour Card win and World Championship brilliance will take on Brett Claydon.

Stage Two will see action on Friday and Saturday streamed on PDCTV and ties include Jim Williams taking on Zoran Lerchbacher and Richie Burnett against Geert Nentjes.

While the first round winners will be joined by Tour Card holders 65-96 in round two including that tie between Van Barneveld and Soutar.

While Lisa Ashton will also meet Aaron Beeney in another main stage tie before those between 33-64 on the Order of Merit join in the third round.

The winner of Van Barneveld and Soutar will return to the main stage for a meeting with Mickey Mansell while Max Hopp will face William O'Connor in another top tie.

The World's Top 32 enter the event on Friday evening including the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson with a draw taking place to implement those names into the draw.

The action continues on Saturday March 7 with the fifth and sixth round before the tournament concludes on Sunday with an open draw every round.

2021 UK Open Stage Allocations

Friday March 5

Afternoon Session (1100 GMT Start, 1200 GMT on Main Stage)

First, Second & Third Rounds

Main Stage

Berry van Peer v Martin Schindler (R1)

Brett Claydon v Danny Baggish (R1)

Aaron Beeney v Lisa Ashton (R2)

Maik Kuivenhoven v Koltsov/Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (R2)

Alan Soutar v Raymond van Barneveld (R2)

Keane Barry v Nentjes/Burnett (R2)

Max Hopp v William O'Connor (R3)

Damon Heta v Siepmann/D Evans (R3)

Soutar/Van Barneveld v Mickey Mansell (R3)

Stage Two

Gordon Mathers v Kirk Shepherd (R1)

Boris Koltsov v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (R1)

Zoran Lerchbacher v Jim Williams (R1)

Geert Nentjes v Richie Burnett (R1)

Martin Atkins v Bradley Brooks (R2)

Martijn Kleermaker v Wayne Jones (R2)

Peters/L Williams v Scott Mitchell (R2)

Ciaran Teehan v Claydon/Baggish (R2)

Mark McGeeney v Steve Beaton (R3)

Ross Smith v Callan Rydz (R3)

Beeney/Ashton v Darius Labanauskas (R3)

Murray/Kciuk v Kim Huybrechts (R3)

Stage Three

Rhys Griffin v Sean Fisher (R1)

Matt Jackson v Nathan Rafferty (R1)

Keelan Kay v Kevin McDine (R1)

Rowby-John Rodriguez v Brian Raman (R1)

Nick Kenny v Ryan Meikle (R2)

Jeff Smith v Van Peer/Schindler (R2)

Andy Hamilton v Edhouse/Mol (R2)

Lerchbacher/J Williams v Mathers/Shepherd (R2)

James Wilson v Keegan Brown (R3)

Atkins/Brooks v Waites/S Brown (R3)

Barry/Nentjes/Burnett v Luke Woodhouse (R3)

S Taylor/Michael/Lukeman/Verberk v Adam Hunt (R3)

Stage Four

Jitse Van der Wal v Florian Hempel (R1)

Geert De Vos v Niels Zonneveld (R1)

Martin Lukeman v Maikel Verberk (R1)

Scott Taylor v John Michael (R1)

Michael Rasztovits v Peter Jacques (R2)

Hudson/De Vreede v Jesus Noguera (R2)

Scott Waites v Steve Brown (R2)

Kay/McDine v Rowby-John Rodriguez/Raman (R2)

Ryan Joyce v Cristo Reyes (R3)

Heaver/Pronk/Lovely v Ron Meulenkamp (R3)

Murnan/Dennant/Leung v Kenny/Meikle (R3)

Lerchbacher/J Williams/Mathers/Shepherd v Madars Razma (R3)

Stage Five

Shane McGuirk v Jack Main (R1)

Jason Heaver v Lorenzo Pronk (R1)

Luc Peters v Lewis Williams (R1)

Steffen Siepmann v David Evans (R2)

De Vos/Zonneveld v Derk Telnekes (R2)

Alan Tabern v Gawlas/Vos (R2)

Murnan/Dennant v Kai Fan Leung (R2)

Steve West v Jason Lowe (R3)

Andy Boulton v Jelle Klaasen (R3)

Borland/Davis/Doets v Steve Lennon (R3)

Leitinger/Sedlacek v De Decker/Griffin/Fisher (R3)

Raztovits/Jacques v Teehan/Claydon/Baggish (R3)

Stage Six

Jim McEwan v Sebastian Bialecki (R1)

Chas Barstow v Lukas Wenig (R1)

Joe Murnan v Matthew Dennant (R1)

Jon Worsley v Andrew Gilding (R2)

McGuirk/Main v Robert Collins (R2)

Mike De Decker v Griffin/Fisher (R2)

S Taylor/Michael v Lukeman/Verberk (R2)

John Henderson v Matt Edgar (R3)

Hamilton/Edhouse/Mol v J Jones/D Taylor/Blades (R3)

J Smith/Van Peer/Schindler v Kleermaker/W Jones (R3)

J Brown/Carlin/Jackson/Rafferty v Barstow/Wenig/Thomas (R3)

Stage Seven

Joe Davis v Kevin Doets (R1)

Adam Gawlas v Gino Vos (R1)

Ritchie Edhouse v Damian Mol (R1)

Harald Leitinger v Karel Sedlacek (R2)

J Jones/D Taylor v Gary Blades (R2)

J Brown/Carlin v Jackson/Rafferty (R2)

Barstow/Wenig v Martin Thomas (R2)

Justin Pipe v Luke Humphries (R3)

Kuivenhoven/Koltsov/Rusty-Jake Rodriguez v Brendan Dolan (R3)

Hudson/De Vreede/Noguera v Tabern/Gawlas/Vos (R3)

Kay/McDine/Rowby-John Rodriguez/Raman v Josh Payne (R3)

Stage Eight

Jake Jones v Dom Taylor (R1)

Peter Hudson v Ryan De Vreede (R1)

John Brown v Gavin Carlin (R1)

Ryan Murray v Krzysztof Kciuk (R2)

William Borland v Davis/Doets (R2)

McEwan/Bialecki v Van der Wal/Hempel (R2)

Heaver/Pronk v Eddie Lovely (R2)

Ted Evetts v Darren Webster (R3)

McGuirk/Main/Collins v Ryan Searle (R3)

Peters/L Williams/Mitchell v Worsley/Gilding (R3)

McEwan/Bialecki/Van der Wal/Hempel v De Vos/Zonneveld/Telnekes (R3)