2004 UK Open


The 2004 Budweiser UK Open was the second time the Professional Darts Corporation held the tournament which had quickly earned the nickname the "FA Cup of Darts". It was held at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium between 4–6 June 2004. Budweiser became the tournament's new sponsor.
Roland Scholten won the title and the tournament featured Phil Taylor's second televised nine-dart finish during his fourth round win over Matt Chapman.
It was also notable for marking the TV debuts of Adrian Lewis and Andy Hamilton.
130 Players qualified via a ranking table played 8 events across the UK & Ireland.

Prize money

Friday 4 June 2004

1st Round, best of 9 legs

128 players started the chase for the title with the lower ranked players. The competition had earned the nickname, "The FA Cup of Darts" by the nature of its random draw for each round - and there was the extraordinary pairing of former world champions John Lowe against Keith Deller in the first round. Lowe, who had been missing several tournaments on the circuit at the time opted to withdraw from the event so Deller received a bye into round two.
Steve Evans against the Welshman Marshall James in the former 1997 world championship finalist by 5–4 in the preliminary round, Alex Roy showed the worst of his form and temperament against "Odd Job" James Barton, an electrical tester from Bradford. Barton edged Roy out 5-4. Richie Burnett was very poor against Eamon Davies who comfortably beat the Welshman 5-3. Rod Harrington hadn't qualified for a televised tournament for a year and even though his darts were now not falling out of the board, he narrowly lost out to Bedfordshire's Derek Hunt 5-4.
Alan Green took out another known face, Leeds player Dave Smith 5-4 and 'The Horse' Reg Harding was also going home early, as was last year's finalist Shayne Burgess who lost 5-2 to Lee Rose. Mick Manning lost 5-1 to Graeme Stoddart and Cliff Lazarenko stormed through to round two courtesy of a 5-1 win over Andrew Davies. Dennis Harbour beat the only lady in the competition Deta Hedman 5-2 and Dutchman Jan van der Rassel started strongly by beating Steve Ritchie 5-1.
Best match of the first round was former BDO player Colin Monk against Lee Palfreyman who was last seen on TV in the Las Vegas tournament two years ago. It was a belter of a game with Monk edging out Palfreyman 5-4. Both players averaged around 96.0 in the match.

Preliminary round

  • Ian Eames – Gary Thomson 5 – 4
  • Marshall James – Steve Evans 4 – 5
  • Peter Evison – Dave Roberts 5 – 2

    Results

  • Alex Roy - James Barton 4 - 5
  • Richie Burnett - Eamon Davies 3 - 5
  • John Lowe - Keith Deller Bye
  • Colin Monk - Lee Palfreyman 5 - 4
  • Reg Harding - Dale Pinch 3 - 5
  • Derek Hunt - Rod Harrington 5 - 4
  • Andrew Stevenson - Peter Evison 4 - 5
  • Stewart Rattray - Mick Kenway 5 - 2
  • Phil Rawson - Ian Covill 3 - 5
  • Steve Evans - Andy Belton 5 - 4
  • John Watson - Kelvin Painter 2 - 5
  • Alan Green - Dave Smith 5 - 4
  • Mark Holyoake - Kevin Rudling 5 - 4
  • John MaGowan - Moe Whelan 5 - 0
  • John King - Ian Eames 4 - 5
  • Dave Ladley - Andrew Findley 5 - 0
  • Steve Gillett - Nigel Peden 5 - 2
  • Brendan Dolan - Jimmy Dunlop 2 - 5
  • Gary Stevens - Al Hedman 5 - 2
  • Jan van der Rassel - Steve Ritchie 5 - 1
  • Tim Daniels - Tom Kirby 3 - 5
  • Ian Lever - Mark Harris 5 - 4
  • Ray Farrell - Steve Hine Bye
  • Dean Williams - Tony Smith 1 - 5
  • Shayne Burgess - Lee Rose 2 - 5
  • Derek Williams - Bob Crawley 5 - 3
  • Steve Smith - Rikki Blay 4 - 5
  • Dennis Harbour - Deta Hedman 5 - 2
  • Andrew Davies - Cliff Lazarenko 1 - 5
  • James Wheatley - Sam Rooney 2 - 5
  • Mick Manning - Graeme Stoddart 1 - 5

    2nd Round, best of 9 legs

Another 32 players entered the fray for the second round and perhaps not quite as many shocks this time. A slimmed down Alan Warriner who had shed two stones in weight since his last TV appearance got off to a shaky start trailing 3-0 to Eddie Lovely. However the "Ice Man" dug deep and ended up the winner 5-4.
The previous year's local hero Paul Williams was edged out 5-4 by Ian Covill and other local 'The Natural' Les Fitton stormed to a 5-0 win over Tony Smith. Matt Clark went through as did Tom Kirby 5-3 against Keith Wetton. "Fat Boy" Andy Keen took out Simon Whatley 5-2 and Mark Landers beat New Zealand's Tom Williams 5-1. "Uncle Fester" Ritchie Buckle lost out 5-4 to David Platt, who was a "9 dart" challenge qualifier for the 2003 world championship.
Tracking those who came through from the first round, "Odd Job" James Barton won again by beating Alex MacKay 5-4. Dennis Harbour also won again beating the fancied Welshman Wayne Atwood 5-4. "Big" Cliff Lazarenko took out Graeme Stoddart 5-3 and Colin Monk had a slightly easier game this time beating Mark Holyoake 5-2.

Results

  • Paul Williams - Ian Covill 4 - 5
  • James Wade - Gary Stevens 5 - 3
  • Jamie Harvey - Sean Palfrey 3 - 5
  • Dennis Harbour - Wayne Atwood 5 - 4
  • Tom Williams - Mark Landers 1 - 5
  • Wesley Newton - Ian Whillis 4 - 5
  • Lee Rose - Robbie Green 1 - 5
  • Norman Fletcher - Les Hodkinson 5 - 2
  • Tom Kirby - Keith Wetton 5 - 3
  • Steve Johnson - Derek Hunt 5 - 4
  • Peter Allen - Derek Williams 5 - 1
  • Tony Smith - Les Fitton 0 - 5
  • Dave Ladley - Barrie Bates 4 - 5
  • Alan Green - Steve Smith 5 - 2
  • Peter Evison - Keith Deller 5 - 3
  • Sam Rooney - Matt Clark 2 - 5
  • Graeme Stoddart - Cliff Lazarenko 3 - 5
  • Erik Clarys - Ian Eames 5 - 0
  • John MaGowan - Steve Hine 5 - 2
  • Colin Monk - Mark Holyoake 5 - 2
  • Ritchie Buckle - David Platt 4 - 5
  • Jan van der Rassel - Ken Thomas 5 - 2
  • Dale Pinch - Steve Evans 4 - 5
  • Simon Whatley - Andy Keen 2 - 5
  • Ian Lever - Eamon Davies 3 - 5
  • Alex MacKay - James Barton 4 - 5
  • Ritchie Blake - Robbie Widdows 3 - 5
  • Vic Hubbard - Steve Gillett 5 - 0
  • Martyn Freeman - Paul Dillon 5 - 0
  • Kelvin Painter - Jimmy Dunlop 5 - 1
  • Lionel Sams - Stewart Rattray 5 - 2

    Saturday 5 June

3rd Round, best of 15 legs

Into Saturday and enter all those who qualified in the top places during the regional finals. The format was now best of 15 legs, so a bit more time to settle down and play for the seasoned dart players.
Darren Webster went down 5-0 to James Wade and it looked all over. However he amazingly pulled the match back to 5-5 before Wade ultimately squeezed through 8-7. Mark Dudbridge and Roland Scholten were neck and neck at 4-4 with all legs going with the throw, Dudbridge even managing the first six perfect darts of a potential 9 darter. However Scholten took a leg against the throw and then stormed ahead to an 8-5 win.
Friday's hero James Barton finally met his match against rising star Mark Walsh who went into round four with an 8-3 win. However Cliff Lazarenko notched up his third win of the tournament edging out Robbie Green 8-7.
Wayne Mardle appeared to struggle for a while against Vic Hubbard before winning through. He joked with interviewer Helen Chamberlain that his wayward throws into the fives were a tactic. Mardle also commented that he is now a full-time pro having quit his accounts job in the City of London.
Dennis Priestley looked to be in good form as he edged out Terry Jenkins 8-7. Priestley commented that while playing on a 'minor' board that the noise and calling from the main stage was off putting. He also said that he was probably the only player brave enough to voice his opinion on this matter!
Les Fitton again produced a whitewash beating Steve Parsons 8-0. That was 13 legs on the trot to 'The Natural' without a loss! John Part took out Eamon Davies 8-4 and commented that his World no. 1 ranking could be a bit false. He suggested we wait for the official rankings after the World Matchplay to see who really is top of the pile.
Phil Taylor had a difficult match against Steve Maish, a player soaring up the PDC rankings list. Taylor won 8-3 but averaged only around 93.0. A bit of Taylor magic was evident though as he took out a 170 - the highest finish. Maish threw six perfect darts and perhaps thought of a 9-darter. He said to Taylor afterwards that he didn't realise he'd have got nothing for it. Taylor later joked, "If he'd hit it, I'd have given him a tenner."
Shock of the round was Peter Manley the no.1 qualifier going straight out to Matt Chapman. 'The Sheriff' Erik Clarys got through to the last 32 as did Peter Evison. No such luck for Lionel Sams who was edged out by Henry O'Neill. Form player before the tournament Colin Lloyd really struggled against 57-year-old Tom Kirby before muscling through 8-6 and Dutchman Jan van der Rassel won his third match taking out Mark Landers 8-4.

Results

  • Roland Scholten - Mark Dudbridge 8 - 4
  • Eamon Davies - John Part 4 - 8
  • Steve Maish - Phil Taylor 3 - 8
  • Tom Kirby - Colin Lloyd 6 - 8
  • Vic Hubbard - Wayne Mardle 3 - 8
  • Kevin Painter - Kelvin Painter 8 - 5
  • Mark Landers - Jan van der Rassel 4 - 8
  • Steve Beaton - Dave Askew 8 - 4
  • Mark Walsh - James Barton 8 - 5
  • Alan Warriner - Mark Robinson 8 - 5
  • Alan Reynolds - Sean Palfrey 7 - 8
  • Matt Chapman - Peter Manley 8 - 4
  • Darren Webster - James Wade 7 - 8
  • Bob Anderson - Peter Allen 8 - 5
  • Les Fitton - Steve Parsons 8 - 0
  • Alan Green - Erik Clarys 5 - 8
  • Dennis Harbour - Adrian Lewis 8 - 7
  • Andy Keen - Dennis Smith 4 - 8
  • Andy Jenkins - Michael Barnard 8 - 7
  • Barrie Bates - Ronnie Baxter 5 - 8
  • Adrian Gray - Norman Fletcher 8 - 3
  • Alan Caves - Robbie Widdows 8 - 7
  • Lionel Sams - Henry O'Neill 7 - 8
  • Steve Johnson - John MaGowan 4 - 8
  • Robbie Green - Cliff Lazarenko 7 - 8
  • David Platt - Andy Hayfield 8 - 6
  • Peter Evison - Ian Whillis 8 - 4
  • Martyn Freeman - Matt Clark 8 - 6
  • Terry Jenkins - Dennis Priestley 7 - 8
  • Wayne Jones - Colin Monk 2 - 8
  • Denis Ovens - Mark Thomson 8 - 4
  • Ian Covill - Steve Evans 5 - 8