Scarborough’s Sam Spivey sparkles at PDC UK Open

Spivey had already secured his spot in the PDC World Masters in January, losing out in the group stage of that tournament, and his spot in this event, courtesy of finishing 8th place in the 2025 PDC Challenge Tour.

He was joined by former PDC Tour Card holder Usher, who secured his spot through the Worksop, PDC in the community qualifier in February.

Spivey was handed an opening draw against the youngest player in the draw, 16-year-old Kyle Gilding, played on the main stage.

Spivey raced into a 4-0 lead in the contest, hitting three 180s and a 62 finish in that time, legs of 13, 14 and 15 darts as the highlights.

Gilding then hit back with an impressive 16-dart hold of throw before being allowed 21 darts to break the throw of Spivey.

But that seemed to spark Spivey back into life, a 15-dart break of throw with a 120 finish gave him the chance to serve the match out 6-2, which he did in 20 darts.

He would then progress onto stage board two in Reds bar, where he would face two-time PDC title winner, Germany's Max Hopp.

Once again Spivey would start strong, holding in 17 darts.

Hopp would then take the next three legs in 46 darts, the highlight being a 12-dart hold in leg two.

Leg five would see Spivey respond with a classy 141 checkout in a 15-dart hold of throw, he would then back that up with a break in 18 darts to level the contest.

The pair then traded breaks of throw, both missing chances to take control of the contest, before Spivey would make his move, holding in 13 darts to take a 5-4 lead.

Hopp would show great resolve, holding in 14 darts to take the contest all the way to an 11th leg.

Despite facing a vastly more experienced opponent, Spivey would kick off the final leg with his first 180 of the contest, which he backed up with a pair of 100's, giving him a lead of over 200 points after the first nine darts.

Spivey took the contest with a 62 checkout, in 15 darts.

This set up a contest with Dutchman Alexander Merx, who Spivey beat in the final of his Challenge Tour event 24 victory last October, a win which sealed his spot in this very tournament.

But it was a step too far for Spivey, losing the contest 6-5.

Spivey had battled back from 3-0, 4-1 and 5-3 down in the contest to force a last leg decider, which Merx would win on throw in 15 darts. Spivey would finish his three games in the tournament with an overall average of 87.54, including 6 180s and an impressive 40% check out turn success.

Usher's time in Minehead was not as successful.

He was handed a nightmare first round draw against an in-form Cristo Reyes.

The contest would start with each player holding throw in 17 darts, before a defining third leg, where Usher would be given the chance to break by Reyes, but was unable to capitalise, allowing the Spaniard to hold in 20 darts.

Usher hit back with another 17 dart hold to equalise.

Reyes then kicked into top gear, winning the next three legs in 44 darts, averaging over 104 in that spell.

Usher found a third leg, this time in 16 darts but "The Spartan" proved too strong, sealing a 6-3 victory in an emphatic 13-dart hold.

Usher would finish the contest with four 180s and an 88.86 average, compared to Reyes' 95.09 and 3 180s.

Usher now moves onto the Modus Super Series this week, featuring in a high quality week.