The UK Open 2026 is heating up on its second day, with the fifth-round draw promising an array of thrilling matches. Top players like Gerwyn Price, Luke Littler, and Luke Humphries face tough challenges, while surprise upsets and a spectacular nine-dart finish from Danny Noppert have already made headlines. By the end of Saturday, the massive field will be dramatically reduced to just eight elite players, setting the stage for Sunday’s finals.
Minehead Meltdown: UK Open 2026 Delivers Shocking Upsets and Champion Clashes!
The UK Open, often dubbed the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ for its open draw and unpredictable nature, has once again lived up to its reputation. Following Friday’s intense action, the fifth-round draw has set up a series of captivating encounters, promising high drama and exceptional darts on Saturday afternoon.
Key Battles to Watch
Several matches immediately jump out as must-see events, featuring a mix of seasoned champions and rising stars:
- Gerwyn Price vs. Wessel Nijman: This clash promises to be explosive. The Iceman, Gerwyn Price, comfortably won his opening match, but he faces a formidable opponent in young Dutchman Wessel Nijman. Nijman demonstrated his prowess by emphatically defeating his famous compatriot, Raymond van Barneveld, in the previous round. This match has all the ingredients of a classic.
- Luke Littler vs. Kevin Doets: Reigning champion Luke “The Nuke” Littler continues his quest for back-to-back titles at Minehead. However, he’ll need to overcome Kevin Doets. Known as “Hawkeye,” Doets, a Dutch-born Swedish resident, has a history of causing upsets, notably eliminating Michael Smith from a past World Championship. Despite this, Littler’s incredible hunger for trophies makes him a daunting opponent.
- Luke Humphries vs. Dave Chisnall: World Champion Luke “Cool Hand” Humphries will be aiming to replicate his stunning opening performance against Dave “Chizzy” Chisnall. Chisnall is often considered the “nearly man” of the PDC circuit, having narrowly missed out on numerous titles. Intriguingly, the UK Open is one tournament where he hasn’t yet faced that particular fate. While Humphries appears to have the advantage based on current form, darts is always full of surprises.
More Major Champion Showdowns
Beyond these headline clashes, the draw has conjured several other highly anticipated matches involving established major champions:
- Ross Smith vs. Daryl Gurney: This encounter has the feel of a match that could be decided by the smallest of margins, with both players known for their explosive scoring.
- Rob Cross vs. Mike De Decker: After an impressive victory over world number three Gian van Veen, Rob “Voltage” Cross will be looking to make a serious challenge at Minehead. Standing in his way is Mike De Decker, the sole remaining Belgian competitor.
- Peter Wright vs. Danny Noppert: This is a battle between two former UK Open champions. Both Peter “Snakebite” Wright and Danny “The Freeze” Noppert know exactly what it takes to lift this prestigious trophy. Noppert delivered one of the most memorable moments of the evening by achieving a sublime nine-dart finish to defeat Dimitri van den Bergh.
Other Noteworthy Matches
The action doesn’t stop there, with more top players vying for a spot in the next round:
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Kai Gotthardt: Three-time UK Open champion Michael van Gerwen, surprisingly, won’t be on the main stage. After a tough previous draw against Nathan Aspinall, the Dutch superstar will likely view his match against young German talent Kai Gotthardt as a more favorable proposition. While Gotthardt possesses talent, he doesn’t yet carry the same menacing presence as “The Asp.”
- James Wade vs. Gabriel Clemens: James “The Machine” Wade, pursuing a remarkable fourth UK Open crown, must first get past Germany’s Gabriel “The German Giant” Clemens to continue his campaign.
- Stephen Bunting vs. Mensur Suljović: Stephen “The Bullet” Bunting faces Austrian veteran Mensur “The Gentle” Suljović, who advanced by defeating his training partner, Jermaine Wattimena.
- Josh Rock vs. Dominik Gruellich: Rising star Josh Rock will square off against promising German player Dominik Gruellich, a competitor more than capable of upsetting established names if given the slightest opportunity.
The Road to the Final Eight
Proceedings recommence on Saturday afternoon, and by the close of the evening, the once sprawling field will have been drastically cut down to just eight survivors. The question lingering over Minehead is simple: when the darts action concludes on the Somerset coast, which eight players will still be standing, ready to compete on Sunday?
Fifth Round Match Schedule (Selected Stages)
Main Stage:
- 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
Stage Three:
- Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
- Mensur Suljović v Stephen Bunting
- Josh Rock v Dominik Gruellich
- Ryan Joyce v Keane Barry
Stage Four:
- Martin Lukeman v Madars Razma
- Gabriel Clemens v James Wade
- Oskar Lukasiak v Krzysztof Ratajski
- Ryan Searle v Michael Smith
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
