UK Open 2014 - Mastercaller

The UK Open 2014 was staged in Minehead for the first time. Until 2014 the UK Open had always been played in Bolton. The date was also changed, before it was always played early June, the tournament was now played from March 7 till 9. Because the tournament was brought forward, there were also only six UK Open Qualifiers instead of the usual eight.

Adrian Lewis would prove to be the strongest this long weekend. He had all the trouble in the world to overcome in the last 32 against the Belgian ace Ronny Huybrechts but still managed to come from 3-7 behind and win in a decider. From that moment Jackpot was unstoppable. Raymond van Barneveld (9-2), Mensur Suljovic (10-3) and Mervyn King (10-6) were all swept aside.

In the final Lewis was up against Terry Jenkins. The Bull got to the final of a major televised tournament for the first time since the World Matchplay in 2009. But like the previous seven times he fell well short in the final. Lewis rushed towards the 11-1 victory recording an average of 109.13, the highest average in a final of the UK Open ever.

The biggest surprise of the tournament was Aden Kirk. The young Englishman defeated non other than five-time UK Open champion Phil Taylor in the third round. The Power who hasn’t been in top form the whole year, couldn’t get going in this stage either and exited in his first match this year. Kirk then also beat Peter Wright, was the current leader in the Premier League. Brendan Dolan proved too strong in the last 16, but Kirk can look back on a wonderful weekend.

Michael van Gerwen was the big favourite before the tournament started. The Dutchman had won the last two tournaments on television and was still i great form. He got to the semi-finals effortlessly after victories over James Hubbard, Andy Hamilton, Mark Webster and Ian White, but in the semi-finals Terry Jenkins was simply just a bit better.

For the Netherlands six compatriots participated besides Michael van Gerwen, including three debutants. Dirk Duijvenbode won his first match, but lost in the last 64. The same happened to Benito Pas. Best debutant was former BDO world champion Christian Kist. He defeated Antonio Alcinas and fellow countryman Vincent van der Voort before losing to Mervyn King. Jelle Klaasen beat John Henderson on the main stage in his first match, but lost to Andy Hamilton the next match after leading 4-0, he lost 8-9. Two-time UK Open champion Raymond van Barneveld had to play from the first round because he hadn’t played very well in the qualifiers. He does play well this weekend though and reaches the last 16 where he loses to the eventual champion.

UK Open

About UK Open 2014

Competitors Of UK Open 2014

Toni Alcinas

Sam Allen

Gary Anderson

Kyle Anderson

Jyhan Artut

Chris Aubrey

Mick Baker

Mark Barilli

Michael Barnard

Jeff Batham

Ronnie Baxter

Steve Beaton

Scott Bennett

Andy Boulton

John Bowles

Tony Broughton

Keegan Brown

Steve Brown

Stephen Bunting

Richie Burnett

Ben Burton

Alan Casey

Jamie Caven

Dave Chisnall

Matt Clark

Adam Cousins

Mark Cox

Graham Dando

Nigel Daniels

Alan Derrett

Nathan Derry

Chris Dobey

David Dodds

Brendan Dolan

Steve Douglas

Kevin Dowling

Pete Dyos

Matthew Edgar

Nick Fullwell

Andrew Gilding

Adrian Gray

Carl Green

Rhys Griffin

Daryl Gurney

Johnny Haines

Andy Hamilton

John Henderson

Nigel Heydon

Jim Hill

Steve Hine

Paul Hogan

Jason Hogg

Aaron Holdstock

James Hubbard

Peter Hudson

Adam Hunt

Kim Huybrechts

Ronny Huybrechts

Mark Hylton

Ewan Hyslop

Terry Jenkins

Wayne Jones

Ian Jones

Stuart Kellett

Mervyn King

Aden Kirk

Christian Kist

Jelle Klaasen

Ian Lever

Adrian Lewis

Jamie Lewis

Jason Lovett

Shaun Lovett

Chris Mackie

Rocco Maes

Steve Maish

Michael Malone