Rileys Host UK Open Qualifiers

THE amateur qualifiers for the 2010 UK Open will be held in Rileys Darts Zones around the country in April and May.

The UK Open - nicknamed "The FA Cup of Darts" for its unique format - gives amateur players the chance to challenge the biggest names in the sport at Bolton's Reebok Stadium in June, competing for a £200,000 prize fund.

While professional stars will do battle over eight qualifying events for 96 places in the UK Open televised finals, a further 32 places are on offer for amateur qualifiers.

The amateur qualifiers will be played in 20 Rileys clubs which have the state-of-the-art Darts Zones, which have been introduced around the country over the past year.

Phil Taylor, who has opened many of the Darts Zones in his role as Rileys Darts Ambassador, said: "I'd love to see some new talent get through to the final rounds of the UK Open.

"There's nothing better than a spot of giant-killing - it happens in football's FA Cup, so why not in darts?"

Taylor actually faced one of the 32 amateur qualifiers in last year's UK Open, when he took on Salford's Ken Mather in the last 32, winning 9-3 before going on to take the title for a third time in Bolton.

The 2010 UK Open amateur qualifiers will be held in April and May across 20 Rileys clubs.

Entry to the tournament is free and players will be allowed to enter more than one qualifying event. At each qualifying event, players will compete in the preliminary rounds on April 10/11, with the last 32 from each event then returning for the Regional Finals at a later date to compete for the places in the UK Open televised finals.

Qualifiers will be held at the following Rileys venues:
Preliminary Rounds
Saturday April 10: Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Burton, Chester, Coventry, Gillingham, London, Manchester, Worcester.
Sunday April 11: Brighton, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Hull, Liverpool, Norwich, Oxford, Solihull and Wolverhampton.

Regional Finals
Saturday April 17: Bournemouth, Burton, Exeter, Gillingham and London.
Sunday April 18: Brighton, Cardiff, Croydon, Norwich and Oxford.
Saturday May 1: Aberdeen, Chester, Coventry, Manchester and Worcester.
Sunday May 2: Edinburgh, Liverpool, Solihull and Wolverhampton.
Saturday May 8: Hull

Entry forms are available online via the Rileys website.