Ladbrokes 2020 UK Open 6-8 March Somerset

[Ginge]

Another couple of venues maybe one in the north east?

There are no Rileys in the north east.

Rileys are a sponsor.

And that ends that discussion. I mean, it can just go round in circles this. Until Rileys are not the sponsor, or until they open a branch in the north east, then there wont be a qualifier there. Same applies to NI and to Wales, although people from north/mid Wales can always make the perilous journey to Wolves or Chester from there if they so wish.

If a NI qualifier was held in a venue that wasn't a Rileys, how would that harm Rileys or the sponsorship agreement that's in place?

Well it would be one less qualifier happening in Rileys, so less profit going over their bar into the till.

The only way areas that dont have a qualifier will now get one is with a change of sponsor imo, they clearly arent rushing to open more branches. And I cant see the PDC wanting to dump a sponsor just so they get a NI j0bber in as opposed to a Midlands j0bber.

Why would there have to be one less qualifier in rileys? Why couldn't they have a NI qualifier on top of the existing ones?

Well, they could, but they you have an extra match. And a nice unround 17 qualifiers. Cant see them going for that to be honest. I doubt they care there isnt a NI qualifier so everyone is p8ssing in the wind here.

[Rout]

Have 4 qualifiers in areas that have a rileys absolutely nowhere near then. Making a nice round 20. In an 8 board comp with 160+ entrants, its really not gonna make much difference to run logistically. The number of entries in the finals has fluctuated over the years for various reasons hasnt it?

[Ginge]

It has, its only the last few years they have decided on a cap of a round number, I assume for broadcasting reasons.

But again, I doubt they give a toss there are no NI j0bber players there so why would they go to the expense of running 4 extra events independent of a Rileys?

[Rout]

What expense? £8 entry fee x 200 possible entrants = £1600

Plus several grand over the bar for the venue.

Pretty sure that would cover the cost of putting on a day long darts comp between them given not a penny is paid back out.

[Ginge]

And again, why bother? The PDC wont give a shiny shiiiite. If they actually cared they would have remedied it by now, Rileys have been shutting at a rate for years. Clearly they are happy for them to hold 16 (some venues having more than one) and thats it.

[Rout]

And again, why bother? The PDC wont give a shiny shiiiite.

This is sport. People dont follow pdc darts to avidly watch their bank balance grow. It's because they are fans of sport. When you run a sport, you have a responsibility to try and supply fairness, a level playing field and opportunities. It might not make you any extra immediate opportunities to make more money, but in the bigger picture it will.

Isnt this meant to be the one tournament that they run that's about inclusivity, having amateur participants and so on?

[Ginge]

They just dont care where they come from, aye.

[Black Velvet]

Darts isn’t a sport.

[oche balboa]

I'm surprised Rileys are still around tbf.

[oche balboa]

in 2009 for example there was only 4 qualifiers held (8 qualified from them)

[Ginge]

I'm surprised Rileys are still around tbf.

Last time I went in one it wasnt overly cheap for a pint and this was hardly a city centre branch either.

[Zapp Brannigan]

I'm surprised Rileys are still around tbf.

Same

Tbf the independent pool and snooker places are thriving now, just don’t see a national chain making much money

The pub that was a Riley’s in town is now ran by a guy that loves his games. has the county pool side there, 2 pool leagues, a snooker league, 2 weekly darts competitions, monthly opens and cheap beer. Every Ppv boxing on a ticketed event as well

Went there for the weekly ko a few months back when I got back playing and it was one of the most well run tournaments I’ve played in. 6 boards, each board a group of 4 players that played each other in a round robin, winners and runners up went to knockouts, 3rd place went to a 9 darts shoutout . Was there 3 hours and got 5 games in.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Another couple of venues maybe one in the north east?

There are no Rileys in the north east.

Rileys are a sponsor.

And that ends that discussion. I mean, it can just go round in circles this. Until Rileys are not the sponsor, or until they open a branch in the north east, then there wont be a qualifier there. Same applies to NI and to Wales, although people from north/mid Wales can always make the perilous journey to Wolves or Chester from there if they so wish.

If a NI qualifier was held in a venue that wasn't a Rileys, how would that harm Rileys or the sponsorship agreement that's in place?

Well it would be one less qualifier happening in Rileys, so less profit going over their bar into the till.

The only way areas that dont have a qualifier will now get one is with a change of sponsor imo, they clearly arent rushing to open more branches. And I cant see the PDC wanting to dump a sponsor just so they get a NI j0bber in as opposed to a Midlands j0bber.

Pdc wont be looking to change any sponsor that isn’t a betting site any time soon with the rumoured changes in the law coming.

[Rout]

UK open qualifier Chorlton

L16
Daz Latham v mark rice
Wes Newton v Pete Hudson
Michael Whitehead v Nathan Boon
David Wood v Rob Collins
R Perara v Carl Sneyd
Scott Taylor v Darren Armstrong
Carl Bachelor v Terry Jepson
Mark Crowther v Callum Loose

[ssjsa]

[Rout]

UK open qualifier Chorlton

L16
Daz Latham v mark rice
Wes Newton v Pete Hudson
Michael Whitehead v Nathan Boon
David Wood v Rob Collins
R Perara v Carl Sneyd
Scott Taylor v Darren Armstrong
Carl Bachelor v Terry Jepson
Mark Crowther v Callum Loose

QF
Daz Latham v Wes Newton
Michael Whitehead v Rob Collins
Carl Sneyd v Scott Taylor
Carl Bachelor v Callum Loose

[Rout]

UK open qualifier Chorlton

L16
Daz Latham v mark rice
Wes Newton v Pete Hudson
Michael Whitehead v Nathan Boon
David Wood v Rob Collins
R Perara v Carl Sneyd
Scott Taylor v Darren Armstrong
Carl Bachelor v Terry Jepson
Mark Crowther v Callum Loose

QF
Daz Latham v Wes Newton
Michael Whitehead v Rob Collins
Carl Sneyd v Scott Taylor
Carl Bachelor v Callum Loose

SF
Wes Newton v Rob Collins
Scott Taylor v Carl Bachelor

[Rout]

Final

Rob Collins v Scott Taylor

[Rout]

Wes Newton is having an absolute meltdown after getting beat.

Carl Sneyd paid Dave Evans (of recent indigo fame) five quid to mark the board for him but Dave went to the toilet.

Wes had a pop at Dave when he got beat that he was wound up from having to wait for a marker. 5 minutes later it's still going on.

[Rout]

3-2 Collins in the final.