View source for 2007 UK Open

{{Infobox individual darts tournament
|tournament_name = 2007 Blue Square UK Open
|image =
|dates = 7–10 June 2007
|venue = [[Macron Stadium|Reebok Stadium]]
|location = [[Bolton]]
|country = {{ENG}}
|organisation = [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]]
|format = Legs<br>Final – best of 31
|prize_fund = £150,000
|winners_share = £30,000
|nine_dart = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]]
|high_checkout = '''170''' {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Colin Osborne]]
|winner = {{flagicon|NED}} '''[[Raymond van Barneveld]]'''
|prev = [[2006 UK Open|2006]]
|next = [[2008 UK Open|2008]]
}}

The '''2007 Blue Square UK Open''' was the fifth year of the [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC's]] [[UK Open]] darts tournament where, following numerous regional qualifying heats throughout Britain, players competed in a single elimination tournament to be crowned champion. The tournament took place at the [[Macron Stadium|Reebok Stadium]], [[Bolton]], [[England]], between 7–10 June 2007. [[The Rank Group#CITEREF2013|Blue Square]] took over as title sponsor after [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser's]] three-year deal expired.

There were two changes being introduced this year where a tournament bracket was introduced from the quarter-final stage to prevent players being forced into playing long back-to-back matches. Previously there had been a random draw after each round and the tournament had earned the nickname the "[[FA Cup]] of darts" as a result. The number of players was expanded from 128 to 168 for the 2007 tournament, but due to players tied on 168th position in the Order of Merit the starting field was 176 players.

[[Raymond van Barneveld]] defended his title, by defeating fellow Dutchman [[Vincent van der Voort]] 16–8 in the final.

==Prize money==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | Stage <small>(no. of players)</small>
! Prize money<br /><small>(Total: £150,000)</small><ref>{{cite web|title=2007 UK Open Player Prize Money|url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResultsPrize.aspx?EventKey=189|work=Darts Database|access-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721213727/http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResultsPrize.aspx?EventKey=189|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| '''Winner'''
| align=center | <small>(1)</small>
| align=center | £30,000
|-
| '''Runner-Up'''
| align=center | <small>(1)</small>
| align=center | £15,000
|-
| '''Semi-finalists'''
| align=center | <small>(2)</small>
| align=center | £8,500
|-
| '''Quarter-finalists'''
| align=center | <small>(4)</small>
| align=center | £4,000
|-
| '''Last 16 <small>(fifth round)</small>'''
| align=center | <small>(8)</small>
| align=center | £2,000
|-
| '''Last 32 <small>(fourth round)</small>'''
| align=center | <small>(16)</small>
| align=center | £1,500
|-
| '''Last 64 <small>(third round)</small>'''
| align=center | <small>(32)</small>
| align=center | £1,000
|-
| '''Last 96 <small>(second round)</small>'''
| align=center | <small>(32)</small>
| align=center | n/a
|-
| '''Last 128 <small>(first round)</small>'''
| align=center | <small>(32)</small>
| align=center | n/a
|-
| '''Last 160 <small>(preliminary round)</small>'''
| align=center | <small>(32)</small>
| align=center | n/a
|-
! colspan=3 |
|-
|'''[[Nine-dart finish]]'''
| align=center | <small>(1)</small>
| align=center | £15,000
|}

==Format==
Qualifying events are held at [[Punch Taverns]] pubs across the UK – winners from each pub event progress to one of four Regional Finals, to be staged in their relevant area. Players who reach the final eight in the Regional Finals will qualify for the televised stages of the UK Open in Bolton.

In addition there are eight UK Open Regional Finals for the "professional" players. All events are open to all darts players on payment of an entry fee – which means that players from both the [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] and [[British Darts Organisation|BDO]] are eligible to enter. Players who enter through the Punch Taverns Qualifying round are not eligible to play in the regional qualifying events and vice versa.

The results of the eight qualifiers are then collated into an Order of Merit table (winner £4000; runner-up £2000; 3–4 £1000; 5–8 £500; 9–16 £250; 17–32 £100; 33–64 £50). This was raised to winner £5000; runner-up £2500; 3–4 £1250; 5–8 £600; 9–16 £300; 17–32 £150; 33–64 £75 from January 2007. The top 128 players (plus ties) in this Order of Merit join the 32 Punch Taverns qualifiers at the televised stages in Bolton.

The format for the event changes in 2007 to allow the tournament to expand by an extra day, and increase the number of players in the field.

*Day 1, Preliminary round – best of 15 legs
16 Matches drawn from a pool of 32 Punch Taverns Qualifiers and the 31 players with £50 or £75 in UK Open Order of Merit
:1st round – best of 15 legs
32 Matches with 16 Preliminary round survivors, the remaining 31 players who were not drawn in Preliminary round and players ranked 97–113 in UK Open Order of Merit
*Day 2, 2nd round – best of 15 legs
Players ranked 65 to 96 join the first round winners.
:3rd round – best of 15 legs
Players ranked 33 to 64 join the second round winners.
*Day 3, 4th round – best of 21 legs
Players ranked in the top 32 join the third round winners.
:5th round – best of 21 legs
Last 32 of competition
:6th round – best of 21 legs
Last 16 of competition followed by draw for quarter-finals in bracket form to avoid players being drawn in consecutive matches.
*Day 4, Quarter-finals – best of 21 legs
:Semi-finals – best of 21 legs
:Final – best of 31 legs

==UK Open Regional Final results==
The UK Open Order of Merit was based on the results of the eight qualifying events across the UK. The eight final results were:-
:24 September 2006 (Wales) '''Phil Taylor''' 2–1 Adrian Lewis
:22 October (Ireland) '''Raymond van Barneveld''' 2–1 Colin Lloyd
:5 November (Scotland) '''Raymond van Barneveld''' 2–0 Barrie Bates
:6 January 2007 (North-East) '''Raymond van Barneveld''' 2–0 Roland Scholten
:11 February (South-West) '''Dennis Priestley''' 2–0 James Wade
:4 March (South) '''Phil Taylor''' 2–0 Wayne Mardle
:18 March (North-West) '''James Wade''' 2–0 Terry Jenkins
:1 April (Midlands) '''Andy Hamilton''' 2–0 James Wade

==Results==
Collated results from later stages:-<ref>{{cite web|title=UK Open 2007 – Bracket|url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/uk-open/2007/bracket|work=Mastercaller|access-date=6 February 2024}}</ref>

===Fourth round===
{{colbegin}}
*Board One
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Mason 4–11 Mervyn King {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Eccles 8–11 Michael van Gerwen {{flagicon|NED}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Manley 3–11 Phil Taylor {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|NIR}} John MaGowan 1–11 Raymond van Barneveld {{flagicon|NED}}

*Board Two
:{{flagicon|WAL}} Barrie Bates 9–11 Adrian Lewis {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|NED}} Roland Scholten 5–11 James Wade {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Dennis Smith 4–11 Colin Lloyd {{flagicon|ENG}} 
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Wayne Mardle 7–11 Denis Ovens {{flagicon|ENG}}

*Board Three
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin Painter 11–6 [[Nigel Birch (darts player)|Nigel Birch]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin McDine 7–11 [[Alan Green (darts player)|Alan Green]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Wayne Jones 11–4 Gary Spedding {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Darren Johnson 6–11 Brendan Dolan {{flagicon|NIR}}

*Board Four
:{{flagicon|CAN}} John Part 11-7 [[Garrett Gray]] {{flagicon|IRL}} 
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Hine 11–1 Alan Tabern {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|WAL}} Richie Burnett 11–9 Jelle Klaasen {{flagicon|NED}} 
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Osborne 11–10 Steve Maish {{flagicon|ENG}}

*Board Five
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Terry Jenkins 11–8 [[Andy Roberts (darts player)|Andy Roberts]] {{flagicon|WAL}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Smith 11–9 Robbie Green {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Dennis Priestley 11–5 [[Mick McGowan]] {{flagicon|IRL}} 
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Dudbridge 11–8 Simon Whatley {{flagicon|ENG}}

*Board Six
:{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Rooney]] 11–6 Gary Welding {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|WAL}} Wayne Atwood 7–11 [[Andy Callaby]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Owen Caffrey]] 11–6 Jason Clark {{flagicon|SCO}}
:{{flagicon|NED}} Vincent van der Voort 11–5 [[John Kuczynski]] {{flagicon|USA}}

*Board Seven
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Beaton 7–11 [[Adrian Gray]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Holden 11–8 Andy Jenkins {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Alex Roy 11–5 Lee Palfreyman {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Hamilton 7–11 Darren Webster {{flagicon|ENG}}

*Board Eight
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Monk 11–8 [[Tony Randell]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Smith (darts player)|Steve Smith]] 11–8 Alan Reynolds {{flagicon|WAL}}
:{{flagicon|AUS}} [[David Platt (darts player)|David Platt]] 11–7 Mark Lawrence {{flagicon|ENG}}
:{{flagicon|ENG}} Wes Newton 11–8 Jimmy Mann {{flagicon|ENG}}
{{colend}}

{{32TeamBracket|compact=y|nowrap=y|seeds=n
| RD1= 5th Round<br>best of 21 legs<br>losers £1,500
| RD2=6th Round<br>best of 21 legs<br>losers £2,000
| RD3=Quarter-finals<br>best of 21 legs<br>losers £4,000
| RD4=Semi-finals<br>best of 21 legs<br>losers £8,500
| RD5=Final<br>best of 31 legs<br>winner £30,000<br>Runner-up £15,000
| score-width=
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01={{flagicon|NED}}[[Vincent van der Voort]]
| RD1-score01=11
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Alex Roy (darts player)|Alex Roy]]
| RD1-score02=3
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03={{flagicon|WAL}}[[Richie Burnett]]
| RD1-score03=11
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Sam Rooney]]
| RD1-score04=6
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Terry Jenkins]]
| RD1-score05=11
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06={{flagicon|ENG}}[[David Platt (darts player)|David Platt]]
| RD1-score06=3
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Mark Dudbridge]]
| RD1-score07=11
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Adrian Lewis]]
| RD1-score08=7
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Colin Osborne]]
| RD1-score09=11
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10={{flagicon|NED}}[[Michael van Gerwen]]
| RD1-score10=7
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Mervyn King (darts player)|Mervyn King]]
| RD1-score11=11
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Denis Ovens]]
| RD1-score12=5
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Alan Green (darts player)|Alan Green]]
| RD1-score13=11
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Andy Callaby]]
| RD1-score14=4
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Darren Webster]]
| RD1-score15=11
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16={{flagicon|ENG}}[[James Wade]]
| RD1-score16=7
| RD1-seed17=
| RD1-team17={{flagicon|NED}}[[Raymond van Barneveld]]
| RD1-score17=11
| RD1-seed18=
| RD1-team18={{flagicon|CAN}}[[John Part]]
| RD1-score18=10
| RD1-seed19=
| RD1-team19={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Wayne Jones (darts player)|Wayne Jones]]
| RD1-score19=11
| RD1-seed20=
| RD1-team20={{flagicon|ENG}}Mark Holden
| RD1-score20=6
| RD1-seed21=
| RD1-team21={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]]
| RD1-score21=11
| RD1-seed22=
| RD1-team22={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Wes Newton]]
| RD1-score22=5
| RD1-seed23=
| RD1-team23={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Dennis Priestley]]
| RD1-score23=11
| RD1-seed24=
| RD1-team24={{flagicon|NIR}}[[Brendan Dolan]]
| RD1-score24=4
| RD1-seed25=
| RD1-team25={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Colin Lloyd]]
| RD1-score25=11
| RD1-seed26=
| RD1-team26={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Andy Smith (darts player)|Andy Smith]]
| RD1-score26=7
| RD1-seed27=
| RD1-team27={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Kevin Painter]]
| RD1-score27=11
| RD1-seed28=
| RD1-team28={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Steve Smith (darts player)|Steve Smith]]
| RD1-score28=7
| RD1-seed29=
| RD1-team29={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Steve Hine]]
| RD1-score29=11
| RD1-seed30=
| RD1-team30={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Adrian Gray]]
| RD1-score30=6
| RD1-seed31=
| RD1-team31={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Colin Monk]]
| RD1-score31=11
| RD1-seed32=
| RD1-team32={{flagicon|IRL}}[[Owen Caffrey]]
| RD1-score32=7
| RD2-seed01=
| RD2-team01=v der Voort
| RD2-score01=11
| RD2-seed02=
| RD2-team02=Burnett
| RD2-score02=5
| RD2-seed03=
| RD2-team03=T. Jenkins
| RD2-score03=11
| RD2-seed04=
| RD2-team04=Dudbridge
| RD2-score04=4
| RD2-seed05=
| RD2-team05=Osborne
| RD2-score05=11
| RD2-seed06=
| RD2-team06=King
| RD2-score06=10
| RD2-seed07=
| RD2-team07=A. Green
| RD2-score07=11
| RD2-seed08=
| RD2-team08=Webster
| RD2-score08=8
| RD2-seed09=
| RD2-team09=v Barneveld
| RD2-score09=11
| RD2-seed10=
| RD2-team10=W. Jones
| RD2-score10=5
| RD2-seed11=
| RD2-team11=Taylor
| RD2-score11=11
| RD2-seed12=
| RD2-team12=Priestley
| RD2-score12=3
| RD2-seed13=
| RD2-team13=Lloyd
| RD2-score13=11
| RD2-seed14=
| RD2-team14=Painter
| RD2-score14=9
| RD2-seed15=
| RD2-team15=Hine
| RD2-score15=11
| RD2-seed16=
| RD2-team16=Monk
| RD2-score16=8
| RD3-seed01=
| RD3-team01=v der Voort <small><span style="color:dimgray;">80.68</span></small>
| RD3-score01=11
| RD3-seed02=
| RD3-team02=T. Jenkins <small><span style="color:dimgray;">86.25</span></small>
| RD3-score02=10
| RD3-seed03=
| RD3-team03=Osborne <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.86</span></small>
| RD3-score03=11
| RD3-seed04=
| RD3-team04=A. Green <small><span style="color:dimgray;">85.39</span></small>
| RD3-score04=6
| RD3-seed05=
| RD3-team05=v Barneveld <small><span style="color:dimgray;">96.08</span></small>
| RD3-score05=11
| RD3-seed06=
| RD3-team06=Taylor <small><span style="color:dimgray;">97.14</span></small>
| RD3-score06=4
| RD3-seed07=
| RD3-team07=Lloyd <small><span style="color:dimgray;">94.90</span></small>
| RD3-score07=11
| RD3-seed08=
| RD3-team08=Hine <small><span style="color:dimgray;">84.82</span></small>
| RD3-score08=6
| RD4-seed01=
| RD4-team01=v der Voort <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.17</span></small>
| RD4-score01=11
| RD4-seed02=
| RD4-team02=Osborne <small><span style="color:dimgray;">89.19</span></small>
| RD4-score02=10
| RD4-seed03=
| RD4-team03=v Barneveld <small><span style="color:dimgray;">102.82</span></small>
| RD4-score03=11
| RD4-seed04=
| RD4-team04=Lloyd <small><span style="color:dimgray;">95.23</span></small>
| RD4-score04=4
| RD5-seed01=
| RD5-team01=[[Vincent van der Voort]] <small><span style="color:dimgray;">88.76</span></small>
| RD5-score01=8
| RD5-seed02=
| RD5-team02='''[[Raymond van Barneveld]]''' <small><span style="color:dimgray;">94.99</span></small>
| RD5-score02=16
}}

Random draws were made after each round up to the quarter-final stage; draw bracket has been compiled retrospectively.

==Tournament Review==

===Day One – Thursday 7 June 2007===
The first round was played on Thursday and featured 81 players competing for a place in the second round. [[Winmau World Masters]] champion [[Michael van Gerwen]], playing his first match on Sky Television in the UK, beat 37-year-old Chris McTernan a pub qualifier from Bacup. Former World Champion [[Richie Burnett]] and [[Cliff Lazarenko]] also played on the opening day – both progressing to the second round.

===Day Two – Friday 8 June 2007===
There were very few shocks on day two of the tournament, although former world champions [[Bob Anderson (darts player)|Bob Anderson]] and [[Keith Deller]], who were both struggling for form, were both knocked out. [[Cliff Lazarenko]]'s run in the event ended in the third round. The draw for the fourth round, featuring the top 32 players in the world was staged at the end of Friday's play.

===Day Three – Saturday 9 June 2007===
64 players remained when matches got underway on Saturday afternoon, after a late night on Friday. Raymond Barneveld would book a place in Round 5 with an 11–1 win over John "Mr. Magoo" MaGowan, who he defeated 11–7 in the Semi-finals twelve months ago. It was a different story against John Part with less doubles hit for Barney (compared to 80% against MaGowan). Part led 10–9, but van Barneveld squeezed through to hit double 16 and edge a great match 11–10.

Phil Taylor achieved his third [[nine dart finish]] at Bolton in the fifth round against [[Wes Newton]] – it is also his fifth televised perfect game. Taylor was playing on the second main stage and whilst his match was in progress [[Colin Osborne]] was on his way to an 11–7 victory against [[Michael van Gerwen]], including a 170 finish within moments of Taylor hitting the nine-darter. Osborne also saw off [[Mervyn King (darts player)|Mervyn King]] 11–10 – his second deciding leg victory of the day to reach the quarter-finals. [[Kevin Painter]] came within one dart of matching Phil Taylor's nine-darter missing double 12 for the finish which would have been the first time that a tournament had witnessed two nine-darters on the same day.

The draw for the final day's matches took place at the end of Saturday's play and the quarter-final line-up featured a repeat of the previous year's quarter-final between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

===Day Four – Sunday 10 June 2007===
The tournament reached the quarter-finals stage and the first match on the main board saw [[Vincent van der Voort]] come from 0–5 behind to edge out Premier League finalist [[Terry Jenkins]] 11–10 to reach his first PDC semi-final. [[Colin Osborne]] beat Alan Green 11–6 on board two. [[Colin Lloyd]] followed on board two with another comeback, having been 0–4 behind he beat [[Steve Hine]] 11–6.

The clash between the world's top two ranked players ended with a convincing victory for [[Raymond van Barneveld]] against [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]]. Van Barneveld won four successive legs from 3–2 up and then further extended his lead to 9–3. Taylor took the 13th leg when he took out 182 with a usual combination of a maximum 180 and double one on his next visit. But van Barneveld won the next leg to win 11–4 and give Taylor one of his heaviest defeats on television.

[[Vincent van der Voort]] produced a second successive 11–10 win to reach the final by beating [[Colin Osborne]] in the semi-final whilst defending champion Raymond van Barneveld had a more comfortable win 11–4 over [[Colin Lloyd]] – meaning he'd beaten his two rivals in the top three of the world rankings on the same day. In the final, van Barneveld raced to a 4–0 win hitting his double on the first attempt each time before van der Voort managed to get two legs on the scoreboard. Van Barneveld then took the next four legs, then further extended his lead to 13–5. Van der Voort tried to stay with van Barneveld and took three of the next five legs but a double top in the 24th leg sealed a second successive UK Open title for van Barneveld.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070406213745/http://www.planetdarts.tv/page/UKOpenDetail/0,,10180~1006302,00.html List of qualifiers from the Order of Merit]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070609132052/http://www.planetdarts.tv/page/UKOpenDetail/0,,10180~1033332,00.html Planetdarts website results and reports]

{{UK Open}}
{{2007 in PDC darts}}

[[Category:UK Open]]
[[Category:2007 in darts|UK Open Darts]]
[[Category:2007 in English sport|UK Open]]
[[Category:June 2007 sports events in the United Kingdom|UK Open]]