Coral UK Open 2017 live on ITV4

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ITV4 will broadcast all three days of the 2017 Coral UK Open as the world’s finest players go head-to-head with amateur qualifiers in this unique event on the PDC darts calendar.

Known as the FA Cup of darts, due to the wide mix of players of differing experience who make up the 128 who start the competition, the 2017 tournament marks this popular event’s 15th year on the PDC circuit.

A total of 96 professional players secured their spots in Minehead following the six qualifying events, and they are joined by 32 Rileys amateur qualifiers who came through knockouts staged across the UK.

Just like the FA Cup, a random draw takes place after each round to determine the matches for the next round.

There are also no seedings in the draw, which means the top players can be drawn against each other at any stage, while amateur qualifiers could get the chance to play some of the sport’s established names.

Whilst the tournament has produced shocks and surprises aplenty in its 15-year history, world number one and reigning PDC world champion Michael van Gerwen has dominated the event for the past two years.

He has beaten Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright in both of the previous two finals and will certainly start as favourite to make it a unprecedented hat-trick of wins in 2017.

One notable absentee in Minehead will be 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, who decided not to enter the qualifying events for the competition.

The 56-year-old announced he is to retire from professional competition at the end of the current season, in an interview during ITV’s coverage of the recent Masters event in Milton Keynes, having gradually scaled down his involvement over the past 12 months.

Despite Taylor’s absence, all of the marquee names in PDC darts will be in Minehead to compete in the 2017 UK Open and ITV4 will have live coverage throughout the entire weekend, presented by Jacqui Oatley.

Joining her for expert analysis from the balcony and will be Chris Mason and Alan Warriner-Little, who will also join John Rawling and Stuart Pyke on commentary duty, while Ned Boulting provides roving reports from across the boards and interviews backstage.

All of the action will also be available to watch live online via the ITV Hub.

For tournament schedules and order of play, visit the PDC’s UK Open website.

FRIDAY 3rd MARCH

DAY 1: Rounds 1 & 2
LIVE  11.45am-5.00pm
DAY 1: Round 3
LIVE  7.00pm-11.00pm
SATURDAY 4th MARCH

DAY 2: Round 4
LIVE  12.30pm-5.00pm
DAY 2: Last 16
LIVE  7.00pm-11.00pm
SUNDAY 5th MARCH

DAY 3: Quarter-Finals
LIVE  12.45pm-5.00pm
DAY 3: Semi-Finals & Final
LIVE  7.00pm-11.00pm

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