UK Open Friday afternoon session Round-Up | Peter Wright joins Raymond van Barneveld in reviving hopes, Beau Greaves falters early

As ever on Friday afternoon, it is very much the busiest darting session of the year with three rounds in one go and the big names to follow on Friday evening at the UK Open.

Peter Wright was perhaps an underdog going into his return to the big stage at the UK Open but he averaged just over 90 as he took down Darius Labanauskas 6-3 to end the session off before the draw was conducted for the fourth round.

Wright has been averaging mid 70's on the ProTour and not won many games at all since the turn of the year. He is starting to fall down rapidly and is part of an increasing group of players that could be battling for their darting future very soon.

But for now, it is a real confidence booster for him and he wasn't the only player to get one when it came to results today after spending most of the opening start to the season.

Raymond van Barneveld survived five match darts against Karel Sedlacek in one of the games of the session as he saw off the Czech ace 6-5 to somehow find his way into Round Four.

Van Barneveld came from 5-2 down to secure his spot in round four and given his recent travails on the oche which has seen him barely win a game on tour over the past few months and even skip a major to play an exhibition, he looked emotional on stage.

He vowed earlier this week that he would not be throwing in the towel again despite his issues on the oche and the two-time champion gets his chance to rewrite the script again later today.

Beau Greaves though was not a player who made it through to the fourth round. Greaves reached the latter stages last year and was only stopped by Luke Humphries, now she's a Tour Card holder so that expectation grows even more especially after she hit a nine-darter on tour and has grown into ProTour life.

Albeit the test she was given to start her tournament wasn't exactly an easy one in the form of Darryl Pilgrim. Always known in yesteryear as being the most unluckiest darts player on the planet with huge averages and not much to show for it, he has grown into professional status and keeps getting better.

Greaves lost 6-4 and missed key opportunities throughout the tie that Pilgrim did not. Also there was no joy to be had for the likes of Jimmy van Schie and Shane McGuirk who all lost pretty early on. Van Schie to Tom Bissell on the main stage, the talking point being mainly a 130 checkout in the bull that wasn't to be as the point bounced out.

Ricky Evans though shone with a 102 average on the main stage. The darting entertainer unlike Scott Williams who lost to Benjamin Pratnemer strutted his stuff and produced the goods to boot. He defeated Brendan Dolan in a bit of a hurdle to climb over given he is defending semi-final money from last time.

Elsewhere on the outer boards, Kevin Doets, Gabriel Clemens and Keane Barry were among the players to book their spots in the draw for the fourth round from Stage Two.

In addition, good runs early doors for Charlie Manby albeit after needle with James Hurrell which saw the referee intervene. In from the early rounds, he saw off James Hurrell 6-4 to claim his spot. Others to impress included Henry Coates, one of the few remaining who isn't a Tour Card holder.

More issues too for Niko Springer who failed to make it to the fourth round after losing to his compatriot Kai Gotthardt. Continued good form for Jeffrey de Graaf and also a revival to the fortunes of William O'Connor who had the crowd singing Zombie and he produced one of the displays of the day with a near 102 average in seeing off Ryan Meikle 6-4.

Sam Spivey, Tom Bissell, Adam Warner, Patrik Williams among others all made good early running but have not made it to tonight's draw after losing in the final round before the draw is made. Same can be said for Callan Rydz with Jim Long accounting for him.

The draw is to follow with Luke Littler, Luke Humphries among others coming in at this point.