The five biggest fairytales in UK Open Darts history

The UK Open has long been one of the most unpredictable and thrilling tournaments in professional darts. With its open draw format and no-seeding system, it has produced some of the biggest upsets and underdog triumphs the sport has ever seen.

Over the years, several players have scripted their own fairytales on this grand stage, capturing the hearts of darting fans worldwide. Here, we take a look at five of the greatest fairytale runs in UK Open history.

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2006: Raymond van Barneveld wins his first PDC major

Raymond van Barneveld's switch from the BDO to the PDC in 2006 was met with great anticipation, but few expected him to make an immediate impact on the biggest stages. Entering the UK Open, the Dutchman was still adjusting to life in the PDC, and the tournament featured the world's best, including defending champion and all-time great Phil Taylor.

Barney's journey to the title was nothing short of spectacular. He defeated ‘The Power’ in the quarter-finals, a monumental moment that showed he was ready to challenge the PDC elite. He went on to dispatch John McGowan in the semi-finals before overcoming Barrie Bates in the final, securing his first major title in the PDC. This victory set the tone for his illustrious PDC career, which would soon see him claim World Championship glory.

2012: Robert Thornton stuns Phil Taylor in the final

Scottish darting veteran Robert Thornton was not considered a major contender when he entered the 2012 UK Open. However, in one of the tournament’s most astonishing runs, he defied all odds to claim the title.

The final saw Thornton face the at the time 15-time world champion Phil Taylor, a player who had dominated the sport for decades. But on that night in Bolton, Thornton was simply unstoppable. He put in a fearless performance, playing at a relentless pace and punishing Taylor’s rare mistakes. With a stunning 11-5 victory, Thornton claimed his first major PDC title, proving that even against the greatest, an inspired underdog can have his day.

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2018: Corey Cadby’s heartbreak in the ‘Freeze Edition’

The 2018 UK Open was an unusual edition of the tournament, held under chaotic conditions. The tournament was heavily impacted by the extreme weather brought by Storm Emma, which had already led to the full cancellation of round five of the 2018 Premier League Darts in Exeter the night before the event began. As a result, eleven players scheduled to compete in the first three rounds withdrew from the competition. On 2 March, in an unprecedented move, Butlin’s decided to restrict access to the venue, allowing only players’ relatives, guests, and friends to attend. This meant that the entire tournament was played behind closed doors. Despite the turmoil, one of the standout stories was Australian Corey Cadby’s sensational run.

Cadby, a young and supremely talented prospect, tore through the field with his aggressive and confident style, making it all the way to the final. There, he faced Gary Anderson, a multiple-time world champion. Cadby fought bravely, but Anderson’s experience proved just enough to deny him the fairytale finish. Unfortunately, that proved to be Corey Cadby's only highlight at a televised tournament. Due to visa problems and other scandals his career was over before it had properly started.

2019: Nathan Aspinall’s breakthrough moment

Nathan Aspinall had long been considered a player with potential, but he had yet to make a serious impact on the big stage. That all changed in 2019, when he produced one of the most memorable underdog runs in UK Open history.

Aspinall entered the tournament as an outsider, but his fearless approach and clinical finishing saw him storm through the competition. In the final, he faced Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion. Despite the pressure, Aspinall delivered a nerveless performance, securing an 11-5 victory to lift his first major title, hitting a 170 checkout to win the final. This triumph marked the start of his rise among the PDC elite, as he went on to establish himself as one of the top names in the sport.

2023: Andrew Gilding defies all odds to beat Michael van Gerwen

Few could have predicted that Andrew Gilding, a player who had spent years battling on the fringes of the PDC circuit, would produce one of the biggest upsets in UK Open history in 2023.

Gilding, known for his composed and methodical playing style, made a remarkable run to the final, where he faced the darts icon Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman, a three-time world champion and heavy favorite, was expected to dominate. But Gilding had other ideas. In a tense and thrilling final, he held his nerve and shocked the darts world with an 11-10 victory. The win secured Gilding his first major title and served as a reminder of why the UK Open remains one of the most unpredictable and exciting tournaments in the sport.

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