2026 UK Open R4 Preview

James Punt landed a couple of winners earlier, as well as a couple of losers. His 2026 UK Open R4 preview and tips are below.

2026 UK Open Afternoon Reflections

With around 90 minutes between the draw and play starting it is impossible to really do any sort of in-depth preview.

I will have a stab at the headline matches, but I do not know the running order, which boards they are on etc. Indeed, there are not even any matches listed on the sponsors website for this evening’s matches.

The matches are now best of 19 legs and that should suit the 32 players coming in at this stage. Those players who have played two or maybe three matches to get to the fourth round, they will be a bit jaded and now have to go again against ‘the better players’.

Shafted

We got shafted this afternoon with Karel Sedlacek missing FIVE match darts to beat Barney and he eventually lost 5-6 to sink a great 2 pointer. Overall, we are -1.77.

Our outright selections have the following draw for the fourth round.

Littler will play Damon Heta, and I will take that gladly. Michael Van Gerwen will play Nathan Aspinall, and that is tricky. After his abject display in last night’s PL, I regret having backed MVG for this, but such are the timescales of the darting calendar.

Ross Smith plays Andrew Gilding and they met in last week’s quarter final of Players Championship 6. It is the only match that Smith has lost in his last twelve. Great.

At least Jonny Clayton has got a good draw. He plays German Alex Merkx, who has played three matches already and scraped through his third round match 6-5. I am not going to preview any of those matches.

Danny Noppert vs. Dimitri van den Bergh

I do not expect Noppert to have a deep run as his recent form has been quite poor, but form is relative and Van den Bergh’s recent, and long term form is dire. He has won just one of his last eleven matches. He has had five sub 80 averages and just one 90+ in those eleven. They have only met six times, Noppert winning four, and their last was in 2024, when Van den Bergh was still a player. God knows what the odds will be when this gets published but they were 2.05 and now just 1.73.

2026 UK Open R4 Tip: 1 point Danny Noppert to win -4.5 legs @ 1.73 with Betfred

James Wade vs. Chris Dobey

Both title winners on the floor in 2026. Wade is an accomplished stage player, Dobey is famously vulnerable on TV, but usually at the later stages.

Their last two best of 19 leg matches, both on TV, ended 10-8 with one win apiece. Another close match?

2026 UK Open R4 Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 1.75 generally available

Luke Humphries vs. Luke Woodhouse

Humphries is 12-3 against Woodhouse, but Woody has been giving him a real hard time in recent matches. Three of their last four required a deciding leg/set. Their last match was 6-3 to Humphries, but Woodhouse averaged 103.48.

I expect Humphries to come out on top again, but I also expect Woodhouse to make him work very hard.

2026 UK Open R4 Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 2.28 with Livescorebet

Conor Scutt vs. Daryl Pilgrim

Pilgrim had the difficult task of beating Beau Greaves in round two and he then knocked out Robert Owens in round three. A couple of mid 90 averages and if he can produce a similar standard tonight, he can give Scutt something to think about. Scutt is a media darling and a bit overrated at 1.67.

2026 UK Open R4 Tip: 1 point Daryl Pilgrim to win @ 2.38 at Livescorebet

Timed out! Back for more tomorrow.

-JamesPunt