The 2026 UK Open Darts Championship in Minehead has lived up to its reputation as the ‘FA Cup of Darts,’ delivering immediate drama with a wave of unexpected upsets. Many established PDC Tour Card holders, the sport’s professional elite, found their campaigns brutally cut short in the very first round. Players like Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, Jeffrey de Zwaan, and Filip Bereza were among the high-profile names eliminated, proving once again that in this unique tournament, no one is safe from an early exit.
The UK Open, often dubbed the “FA Cup of Darts” due to its open draw format where professionals can face amateur qualifiers from the very start, kicked off with its usual dose of unpredictability in Minehead. This year, the tournament’s unforgiving nature was on full display as numerous professional players, holding coveted PDC Tour Cards, were sent home packing after just one match.
Early Exits: A Shocking List of Eliminated Tour Card Holders
The opening round proved to be a challenging hurdle for many, with several familiar faces failing to make it past the first stage. Here’s a look at some of the prominent players who suffered early defeat:
- Rusty-Jake Rodriguez: It was another disappointing outing for the Austrian talent. Rodriguez, who has struggled to find form this season, remained winless on the Pro Tour after being decisively beaten by Germany’s Michael Unterbuchner. His early exit here follows similar misfortunes in Hildesheim and Leicester.
- Filip Bereza: The Polish player’s journey to Minehead was short-lived. He was overcome by Welshman Rhys Griffin, notable as the son-in-law of darts legend Lisa Ashton.
- Jeffrey de Zwaan: A few years ago, De Zwaan came incredibly close to a UK Open quarter-final, narrowly losing to Rob Cross. However, his eleventh appearance in the competition ended prematurely, as he was defeated by Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer.
- Samuel Price: Only one Price will continue in Minehead this weekend, as Samuel Price, the less heralded namesake, was knocked out by Ron Meulenkamp.
- Pero Ljubic: The Croatian is still searching for his first Pro Tour victory, and Minehead offered no comfort. He was comprehensively whitewashed (lost without winning a single leg) by the talented Tyler Thorpe.
- Carl Sneyd: The player from Oldham also saw his visit to Somerset cut short, eliminated by fellow Englishman and qualifier Jack Todd.
New Talent Shines Through
While many established players stumbled, the opening round also saw some fresh faces make their mark.
One particularly intriguing match featured two Tour Card debutants: Adam Leek and David Sharp. In a dramatic deciding leg, it was the Australian, Sharp, who managed to edge past the Scot, Leek, ensuring his survival in the tournament and keeping his dream alive.
Local interest also received a boost thanks to Devon’s own Owen Bates. Cheered on by a strong contingent of supporters, Bates delivered an impressive performance in a high-quality encounter, overcoming Germany’s Yorick Hofkens to secure his passage into the next round.
The UK Open continues to be a tournament where dreams are made and shattered in equal measure, setting the stage for more thrilling darts action in Minehead.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
