2024 Ladbrokes UK Open – Day One

This morning, three Americans set out on the quest for glory at the PDC’s Ladbrokes UK Open in Minehead. By the close of play, all three were on their way home.

Jules van Dongen was the first to depart. Facing last year’s WDF World Championship runner-up Thobault Tricole, it was always going to be tricky. The man from Missouri was quickest out of the blocks, and was sonn 2-0 up. The Frenchman struck back by taking the next four legs, before van Dongen closed the gap with a nice 12-darter (57, 180, 140, 124) against the throw.

The next three all went with the darts, which meant that we had an eleventh-leg tie-breaker. It was neck-and-neck all the way down, but with Tricole throwing first, it mean that he had the advantage. When van Dongen failed to convert the required 64, the extra three days paid off for his opponent, and it was all over.

No such problem for Danny Lauby against Nathan Rafferty. The highlights of a consistent (rather than spectacular) display were a brace of 14-darters, and Lauby clinch the W by a score of 6 legs to 3.

Next time out, Lauby took on England’s Jack Male, and this was a see-saw battle between the two. Another last-leg decider, and this time it went the way of the American, and he moved on to the third round.

This time, it was a little more comfortable, and Lauby disposed of France’s Jacques Labre 6-2. High point of this clash was the 12-darter (100, 180, 131, 90) that left him one leg from victory.

AT Top 64, the Terre Haute native was up against former BDO World Champ, Stephen Bunting in the Best-of-13 tussle. The Liverpudlian needed just 14 darts to hold throw first leg, but Lauby responded with an almost-as-fine 15. An ever-so-slightly-worse 16 restored Bunting’s lead, before a 12 (100, 180, 65, 156) made it 3-1. Legs of 15, 14, and 16 increased the lead, before Lauby won two-on-the-bounce. That was as close as it was going to get, and Bunting wrapped it up 10-3.

That just leaves “King of the Seniors”, Leonard Gates. In his opener against Conan Whitehead, things looked grim as the Englishman raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to winning legs of 14, 12, and 17. ‘Soulger’ pulled on back, but 3-1 became 4-1. Not good. Thing is, it turned out to be “not good” for Whitehead, as the Texan kicked it up a notch, and pocketed the next five to secure his spot in round two.

Gates’ next appearance proved to be slightly more comfortable. It certainly wasn’t one-sided, but neither was the American three down! Legs of 11 (180, 140, 97,84), 12 (3 x 140, 81), and 13 helped the Ground Hog Open winner forge a 6-3 triumph over Rhys Griffin.

In round three, former BDO World Trophy Champ Jim Williams was the opponent. This one went even quicker as ‘Soulger” inflicted a 6-2 defeat on the Welshman. Williams may not have been at his best, but a trio of 14-darters certainly helped Gates’ cause.

With the Top 32 beckoning, we were hopeful of an American sticking around until Saturday. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, and Martin Lukeman advanced 10-5. A disappointing end to the day, but Leonard Gates will be back for more…

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