Ones to Watch 2012 - The UK Open Darts

We at Let’s Play Knockout Darts offered a list of slightly lesser known names to watch out for over the 2012 PDC Season. The players nominated have proven a good bet and all are progressing well and providing interest for all those keeping an eye. Some were also part of the illustrious and in our opinion unique class of 2010.

 

So as we head for the first PDC major of the year lets look at those who may be Ones to Watch for 4 days from this Thursday. Again we shall look at a number of categories and see who stands out before offering a view on ultimate success.

 

The Elite

The Top 16 nearly always provides the majority of the latter stage players, despite the Opens tendency to throw up surprises. Last year Wes Newton made his first major final. The semi finals were made up of three players from the Top 10 of the time Wes, James Wade & Mark Webster with the wily and consistent Denis Ovens making up the 4th place.  Relatively predictably the highest ranked player (Wade) won the event. Despite some chopping and changing the top 10 look much the same, with the exception of Andy Hamilton’s superb rise over the last 10 months. The Hammer has not done as well in the Open as in most other major events and could be due here, or has The Premier League taken a toll? A resurgent Barney has been looking better and better and seems to us to be a bit of a man on a mission, could the free draw arrangement favor the Dutchman? Adrian Lewis has also under performed in Bolton and the recent development of Ade playing and pulling out the stops on the bigger days could well reoccur. A case can of course be made for all the top 16 elite, including its newest member Justin Pipe, winning or going close but as ever LPKOD are not going for the easy option. From the Elite section Raymond Van Barneveld is our selection.

 

The New Breed

Those from outside the Top 16 who have or, we believe, are about to make a big impact on the game. The Open can provide a great platform for the in form, prepared and focused talented newcomer. Last year threw up three of these names in the last 16, Mark Hylton, Peter Wright and Dave Chisnal. Although Dave was only a newcomer in PDC & Open terms his achievement on reaching the Qtrs on his first attempt was a sign of things to come. Peter Wright kicked off his breakthrough season with a last 16 place bowing out to “Mile High” Hylton.

 

It is looking very likely that this position could be exactly replicated in 2012, Ted Hankey or Dean Winstanly could match Chizzy’s effort, Ian “Diamond” White is ranked very similarly to Mark Hylton 2011 position and in great form and Mark himself is in almost exactly the same position as Peter Wright was twelve months ago. In addition James Richardson has shown himself to enjoy the big stage and rise to the occasion in his carbon copy career. Kim Huybrechts fits this mold perfectly and has shown already that he is relaxed in such environments. Players Championship Semi Finalist Scott Rand and stablemate Nigel Heydon also provide additional grist to this mill. Nigel reached the last 16 a couple of years ago and Scott will be determined to continue his rapid rise. From the new breed we are looking for last 16 places and maybe at least one Quarter Final. Therefor we shall choose three in the persons of Ian White, Dean Winstanley and “Ruthless” James Richardson.

 

Young Guns

The Open seems to be a happy hunting ground for younger player making a breakthrough, over the last few years Reece Robinson has provided many superb performances in both victory and defeat showing great promise for the future. Joe Cullen and William O Conner also featured well here in the past and Micheal Smith announced his arrival to anyone who had not yet noticed, against Barney last year. This year may be the year that another crop of young hopefuls make there presence felt. Adam Smith Neale is beginning to kick into gear and play as we now he can. Finally qualifying for a TV major at the age of 17. Youth World Champ James Hubbard is in tremendous form and performing as well on the Pro Tour as he is on the Youth Tour! Many other youngsters have come through this year and could be surprise packages for pro’s and other alike. Despite some tough early round draws we shall back Jamie Lewis & James Hubbard  to carry the torch for the next generation this year. If Adam Smith Neale negotiates a tough opening game against Staffordshire’s Rob Hawker then he too will be a serious threat.

 

Qualifiers (Speedy or Rileys)

This unique feature of the Open allows darters from other codes, backgrounds or strictly amateurs to have a go at the big boys and test themselves in PDC conditions against the very best, with the open draw it is also a level playing field. Last year saw some superb runs from qualifiers Andy Bolton & John Bowles both reached the last 16 stage whilst Andy Gilding defeated three PDC pros in a row including world GP finalist Brendon Dolan and World finalist Andy Hamilton, before running out of steam in the last 32. Joe Murnan and Matt Edgar also reached last 32 after qualifying as an associate member. From this years band of qualifiers Glenn Durrant or Steven Bunting could go a long way, trouble is they have each other 1st round and then a possible meeting with James Wade. John Jukes is a great player and in superb form currently, Steve Beaton is a tough stage opponent though as Scott Rand discovered last year. If John could get through he has a chance to make some serious headway. There are many other quality player who have found a way back to pro darts this year thanks to Riley’s and Speedy, Afore mention Rob Hawker, Dave Solly and Davy Dodds are all capable of causing shocks and pushing anyone. However I shall plump for a couple of players that I have watched on and off for a while Andy Roberts and Jamie Hughes could again shake things up and cause real problems. Some may have forgotten Andy but not here at LPKOD, he is a class act , a good guy and has been in superb form for almost 12 months! Jamie Hughes is a tip for the top in our opinion lets not pile too much on him too soon but definitely One to Watch!

 

Pro Debut

 

A few current tour card holders are making their debuts or their professional debuts at least. Andrew Gilding returns as a PDC Tour card holder after his titantic efforts in 2011. Johnny Haines deserves very special mention here, PDC Newcomer he maybe but UK Open newcomer he certainly is not! He qualified for 4 UK Open in a row, via the amateur routes between 2006 & 2009. On every occasion he won at least one match & reached the last 64 on his last appearance. In addition he has competed on the Lakeside stage so his opponent Mark Webster will not have things all on his side even in this early round. Andy Brown is also making a professional debut here and his 2012 form suggests a tough time for Peter Wright in round two. John Bowles returns also, this time as prey instead of hunter, for the last 2 years John has proven a very tough opponent in his home area but this time he appears as  PDC Pro

His will be considered a scalp by all those who are drawn against him early on and it’s a whole new set of things to deal with. Stuart Kellet may be the one use the Open as a springboard this year, a solid start to the PDC tour has seen him improving almost every week, but Stuart made his name as a TV Player and it will be interesting to see if this continues. Slugger Brown & Andy Gilding for us here, differing styles and debut type but both could really upset the apple cart.

 

Comeback Kings

It pays not to right people off in darts, the character and talent of some to come back from personal trauma or just a dreadful run can be amazing. Who would have picked Richie Burnett as a Semi Finalist in the GP last year? So again don’t write of The Prince of Wales, Smiffy aka Dennis Smith is again threatening ro recapture the form that made him world no.5 and a major semi finalist. This Year sees Robert Thornton returning from illness and slipping out of the worlds top 32, can the Thorn prove a threat again? Alex Roy has rediscovered appetite and form and has reached the later stages before, Jelle Klassen, Dennis Priestly and The Adonis himself, Mr Beaton are all former world champs who could re light the fire and roll back the clock, signs of good form from all recently. Here we shall select both Rob Thornton and Dennis Priestly, both more than capable and two of the most generous people on tour.

 

Wildcard

Every year sees a shock player in the last 8 or better and another pull off a huge scalp. Over the years Gary Mawson and Shayne Burgess have reached the finals from lowly starting points, Tony Ayes superb run to the semi including a superb semi final win over James Wade and Steve Hine & Chris Thompson’s runs to the Qtrs, provide more evidence that the great leveler is the format and the draw. A sneaky feeling here gives us The Highlander or Hendo to his friends, not had the best start to his second year but still qualified in the 2nd group and we have great faith in the class act that rocks all over the oche!

 

So there you have it ones to watch for 2012 – The UK Open. Just for the hell of it here’s our forcast of how our choices will fair. Optimistic yes, but perfectly possible! As ever we do not go for the obvious but still put it out for you to follow and enjoy.

 

Winner – Barny

Runner Up – Adrian Lewis

Semi – Rob Thornton

Qtrs – Ian White & Dean Winstanley

Last 16 – Hendo, Gilding & James Richardson

Last 32 – Dennis Priestly, James Hubbard, Slugger Brown, Andy Roberts

WildCard – “Mile High” Hylton – could still fly on after his 2011 Qtrs!

Others to perform well and cause shocks aplenty.