Day one of the 2026 Ladbrokes UK Open, often called the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ for its unpredictable nature, delivered thrilling action and major surprises. Reigning champion Luke Littler started his title defense with a dominant 10-3 victory, showcasing incredible finishing. The highlight of the day, however, was Danny Noppert’s sensational nine-dart finish. Many top contenders, including Luke Humphries, Gary Anderson, and Michael van Gerwen, advanced, while world number two Gian van Veen was among the high-profile casualties as 125 matches narrowed the field to just 32 players for Saturday’s rounds.
The ‘FA Cup of Darts’ Kicks Off with a Bang
The 2026 Ladbrokes UK Open, renowned for its unseeded draw and the potential for lesser-known players to make deep runs, saw 157 players compete across eight stages in its initial four rounds. This unique format truly earns its nickname, the ‘FA Cup of Darts’, promising an exciting and often unpredictable journey towards the final.
Friday’s opening rounds certainly lived up to expectations, featuring 125 intense matches that produced a number of surprising outcomes and whittled the field down to the final 32 players who will battle it out in Saturday afternoon’s fifth round.
Littler’s Blazing Start to Title Defense
Reigning world champion Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler began his quest for back-to-back UK Open titles with an emphatic performance. He secured a sparkling 10-3 victory over Damon Heta, a sweet revenge for his quarter-final elimination against Heta in the 2024 edition of the competition.
Littler’s finishing was clinical throughout the match, highlighted by:
- His third 170 checkout in less than 24 hours, a feat he had achieved twice during Night 5 of the 2026 PDC Premier League.
- Three other 100+ finishes.
- An unorthodox T20-D20-D10 finish on 120 to seal the win against the Australian number one.
Perfection Achieved: Noppert’s Stunning Nine-Darter
The most spectacular moment of Day 1 undoubtedly belonged to Danny ‘The Freeze’ Noppert. The 2022 Ladbrokes UK Open winner achieved darting perfection in his fourth-round tie against Dimitri van den Bergh, hitting a sensational nine-dart finish. Despite stiff resistance from the Belgian, Noppert maintained his recent fine form to battle through to a 10-4 victory.
Top Contenders Shine and Stumble
Luke Humphries’ Strong Showing
World number three Luke ‘Cool Hand Luke’ Humphries also had a phenomenal day, producing a 105 average and four 100+ finishes as he cruised to a 10-3 win over Luke Woodhouse. Humphries, aiming for his maiden Ladbrokes UK Open title, will continue his pursuit against Dave Chisnall in the fifth round.
Anderson’s Masterclass and Wright’s Fight
The performance of the day, apart from Noppert’s nine-darter, arguably came from Gary ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Anderson. The 2018 winner hit eight 180s and boasted a mesmerizing 107.42 average in a dominant 10-6 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Fellow two-time world champion Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright also advanced, first defeating Darius Labanauskas 6-3, then struggling to a 10-6 win over Cameron Menzies.
Van Gerwen and Wade Battle Through
Michael van Gerwen averaged 101 as he dispatched Nathan Aspinall 10-8 on the Main Stage. Meanwhile, last year’s defeated finalist James Wade needed a deciding leg to overcome Chris Dobey in a thrilling 10-9 contest on Stage 2.
Favorites Advance: Price and Clayton
Welsh pair Gerwyn ‘The Iceman’ Price and Jonny ‘The Ferret’ Clayton both comfortably eased through to the fifth round, demonstrating their intent early in the tournament.
Major Upsets and Close Calls
While many top stars progressed, the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ nature meant some high-profile players faced early exits or near misses:
- Highest Profile Casualty: World number two Gian van Veen succumbed 10-7 to Rob Cross in a high-quality contest where both players averaged over 101.
- Near Miss for a Legend: Five-time champion Raymond van Barneveld only reached the fourth round after surviving five match darts against Karel Sedlacek, before being emphatically beaten 10-1 by Wessel Nijman.
- Defending Champion Exits: 2023 Ladbrokes UK Open winner Andrew Gilding was eliminated by former European Champion Ross Smith.
Rising Stars and Notable Performances
Several other players delivered impressive performances or battled through nail-biting finishes:
- Wessel Nijman impressed with a 102.39 average in his dominant 10-1 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.
- Four Germans advanced to the fifth round: Gabriel Clemens, Martin Schindler, Dominik Gruellich, and Kai Gotthardt. Gotthardt, who had a tough 2025 season, has already doubled his prize money total in 2026 with this strong run.
- Last-Leg Thrillers: Besides James Wade, Josh Rock won 10-9 against William O’Connor, and Gabriel Clemens hit a 145 checkout to steal a 10-9 victory from Richard Veenstra.
- Ryan Joyce ended the promising run of Charlie Manby, who had earlier defeated three opponents to reach the evening session.
Looking Ahead: Saturday’s Showdown
The 2026 Ladbrokes UK Open, boasting a £750,000 prize fund with a bumper £120,000 for the winner, will continue on Saturday. The fifth round (Last 32) will unfold across four stages in the afternoon, followed by the Last 16 in the evening.
Key Fifth Round Fixtures (Last 32) include:
- Main Stage Highlights:
- Gary Anderson v Martin Schindler
- Wessel Nijman v Gerwyn Price
- Kevin Doets v Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
- Stage Two:
- Darryl Pilgrim v Jonny Clayton
- Peter Wright v Danny Noppert
- Mike De Decker v Rob Cross
- Kai Gotthardt v Michael van Gerwen
- Other Noteworthy Matches:
- Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
- Mensur Suljovic v Stephen Bunting
- Ryan Searle v Michael Smith
The excitement is set to continue as the competition heads into its crucial stages at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
