Simon Whitlock wins second Coral UK Open Qualifier


Simon Whitlock took victory in the year's second Coral UK Open Qualifier with a 6-4 defeat of Gary Anderson in Saturday's final in Wigan.

Australian star Whitlock backed up his two Players Championship victories in the latter stages of 2016 with a promising start to 2017 as he scooped the £10,000 first prize in the second of six UK Open Qualifiers.

The former European Champion is now assured of a top 32 spot for March's Coral UK Open Finals at the Butlins Minehead Resort following a superb display at the Robin Park Tennis Centre.

Whitlock dropped only three legs as he defeated Latvian newcomer Madars Razma and Alan Tabern Jnr in his opening two games before then seeing off Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena 6-4.

He then knocked out Friday's Qualifier One winner Peter Wright 6-3 in the last 16, before overcoming two other rivals in the world's top 16 - Ian White and Dave Chisnall - to reach the final.

After sharing the opening six legs of the final with Anderson, Whitlock broke with the aid of a 180 in leg seven before powering home a 154 finish - with the Scot waiting on 20 - to lead 5-3.

Anderson responded on tops, but was unable to force a decider as Whitlock closed out victory with a 94 finish.

The world number two had defeated Ryan Searle, Luke Woodhouse, Chris Quantock, Jamie Lewis, Brendan Dolan and Jelle Klaasen on his way to the final, as he picked up £5,000 in prize money to ensure his own top seeding for Minehead.

Chisnall's run to the semi-finals including deciding-leg victories against James Wade and Steve Beaton, while Klaasen was pushed all the way by John Henderson and recent PDC Tour Card winner Richard North.

Beaton won through to the quarter-finals for the second successive day, with his run including a notable triumph over World Champion Michael van Gerwen in the last 32.

Northern Ireland's Dolan and Stoke's White also reached the last eight alongside Bristol's Ryan Palmer, a former PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour finalist who enjoyed his best-ever run on the PDC ProTour by defeating Mareno Michels, Andy Jenkins, Richie Corner, Steve Lennon and Mark Barilli.

Two-time UK Open champions James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld were also amongst the last 16 on the day.

Coral UK Open Qualifier One

Saturday February 3

Preliminary Round

Andy Boulton 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Simon Stevenson

Joshua Richardson 6-1 Allan Candlish

John Bowles 6-3 Paul Osmotherley

Ronny Huybrechts 6-3 Diogo Portela

Mario Robbe 6-1 Coni Singh Nagi

Josh Payne 6-4 Matt Clark

Kevin McDine 6-4 John Michael

Kevin Painter 6-4 John Part

Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 Connor Scutt

Darron Brown 6-4 Par Riihonen

Josh McCarthy 6-5 Greg Ritchie

Ross Twell 6-4 Jerry Hendriks

Steve Hine 6-5 Barry Lynn

Nolan Arendse 6-5 Richard Baillie

Bryan De Hoog 6-2 Michael Rasztovits

Yuki Yamada 6-3 Maik Langendorf

Paul Nicholson 6-3 Scott Rollings

Mark Barilli 6-3 Colin Roelofs

Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Matthew Edgar

Roxy-James Rodriguez 6-3 Jeff Batham

David Pallett 6-3 Steve West

Tim Hope 6-5 Kevin Dowling

First Round

Peter Wright Bye

Sven Groen 6-1 Karsten Kornath

Ben Ward 6-0 Rhys Jackson

Martin Thomas 6-5 Zoran Lerchbacher

Cristo Reyes Bye

Jimmy Hendriks 6-4 Justin Smith

Ian Lever 6-4 Jack Todd

Andy Boulton 6-1 Barrie Bates

Simon Whitlock Bye

Alan Tabern Jnr 6-4 Vincent Kamphuis

Nick Fullwell 6-3 Bernd Roith

Madars Razma 6-5 Ronnie Baxter

Joe Cullen Bye

Paul Rowley 6-2 James Hubbard

Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Kevin Simm

Christian Kist 6-2 Joshua Richardson

Adrian Lewis Bye

Rob Cross 6-0 Ricky Evans

Chris Dobey 6-5 Andy Parsons

Ryan Meikle 6-2 Curtis Hammond

Stephen Bunting Bye

Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-5 Martyn Turner

Ted Evetts 6-5 Berry van Peer

John Bowles 6-4 Joe Davis

Gerwyn Price Bye

Mark Stephenson 6-4 Aden Kirk

Callum Loose 6-3 Ken MacNeil

Ronny Huybrechts 6-2 Kirk Shepherd

Ian White Bye

Kevin Garcia 6-4 Dave Ladley

Nathan Rafferty 6-5 Rene Eidams

Mario Robbe 6-1 Derek Brand

Kim Huybrechts Bye

Eddie Dootson 6-3 Dick van Dijk

James Richardson 6-4 Mark Hylton

Josh Payne 6-5 Joe Murnan

James Wade Bye

Michael van Dijk 6-1 Steven Harbert

Mark Walsh 6-4 John Crossley

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Marc Dewsbury

Dave Chisnall Bye

Adrian Gray 6-3 James Wilson

William O'Connor 6-5 Jeffrey de Graaf

Scott Taylor 6-3 Brian Woods

Daryl Gurney Bye

Ryan De Vreede 6-3 James Hajdar

Kurt Parry 6-2 Jamie Guilfoyle

Kevin McDine 6-1 Mike De Decker

Mark Webster Bye

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Martin Schindler

Michael Barnard 6-4 Yordi Meeuwisse

Mick Todd 6-3 Kevin Painter

Benito van de Pas Bye

Ricky Williams 6-5 Adam Smith-Neale

Dean Stewart 6-4 Stephen Burton

Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 Richie Burnett

Steve Beaton Bye

Jason Wilson 6-4 Ioannis Selachoglou

Nigel Daniels 6-2 Gary Gullan

Darron Brown 6-4 Arron Monk

Michael van Gerwen Bye

Nathan Derry 6-1 Billy Holmes

Wilco Vermeulen 6-3 Ray Campbell

Kevin Thomas 6-3 Kelvin Hart

Vincent van der Voort Bye

Chris Quantock 6-4 Ritchie Edhouse

Martin Lukeman 6-3 Lee Bryant

Alan Tabern 6-2 Josh McCarthy

Gary Anderson Bye

Ryan Searle 6-0 Devon Petersen

Dennis Smith 6-3 Jay Foreman

Luke Woodhouse 6-3 James Lane

Darren Webster Bye

Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Nigel Pinchen

Jon Jukes 6-4 Jim Moston

Ross Twell 6-2 Stuart Dutton

Jamie Lewis Bye

Jonathan Worsley 6-3 Mark Forman

Harry Ward 6-4 Eelco Sieperda

Steve Hine 6-5 Andrew Currivan

Michael Smith Bye

Prakash Jiwa 6-5 Matthew Dennant

Mick McGowan 6-3 Kai Fan Leung

Willy van de Wiel 6-1 Terry Roach

Raymond van Barneveld Bye

Ryan Harrington 6-3 Paul Harvey

Robbie Green 6-3 Wes Newton

Wayne Jones 6-3 Andy Hamilton

Mervyn King Bye

Ricky Sudale 6-3 Terry Temple

Shaun Griffiths 6-3 Jim Walker

Nolan Arendse 6-5 Steve Douglas

Brendan Dolan Bye

Sam Head 6-4 Peter Hudson

Gary Stone 6-0 Bradley Brooks

Matt Padgett 6-2 Bryan De Hoog

Justin Pipe Bye

Richie Corner 6-5 Keegan Brown

Ryan Palmer 6-5 Mareno Michels

Andy Jenkins 6-0 Yuki Yamada

Jamie Caven Bye

Stuart Kellett 6-3 Rob Hewson

Steve Lennon 6-2 Michael Wood

Paul Nicholson 6-3 Antonio Alcinas

Andrew Gilding Bye

Michael Burgoine 6-1 Callan Rydz

Eikichi Nakanishi 6-4 Dylan Duo

Mark Barilli 6-5 Tony Newell

Robert Thornton Bye

Ryan Murray 6-1 James Young

Paul Milford 6-2 Jim Brown

Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Craig Gilchrist

John Henderson Bye

Jonny Clayton 6-0 Jim McKevitt

Ting Chi Royden Lam 6-1 Robert Owen

Michael Huntley 6-2 Roxy-James Rodriguez

Jelle Klaasen Bye

Dyson Parody 6-2 Sheamus Hagan

Scott Dale 6-2 Rohit Rabadia

Mark Westgarth 6-5 Max Hopp

Alan Norris Bye

Richard North 6-1 Darren Johnson

Jamie Bain 6-0 Roger Scrivens

David Pallett 6-3 John Brown

Kyle Anderson Bye

Dawson Murschell 6-1 Mark Frost

Warrick Scheffer 6-3 Charlie Jackson

Jan Dekker 6-3 Tim Hope

Second Round

Peter Wright 6-4 Sven Groen

Martin Thomas 6-4 Ben Ward

Cristo Reyes 6-3 Jimmy Hendriks

Ian Lever 6-1 Andy Boulton

Simon Whitlock 6-2 Alan Tabern Jnr

Madars Razma 6-5 Nick Fullwell

Joe Cullen 6-4 Paul Rowley

Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Christian Kist

Rob Cross 6-4 Adrian Lewis

Chris Dobey 6-3 Ryan Meikle

Stephen Bunting 6-5 Jeffrey de Zwaan

John Bowles 6-3 Ted Evetts

Gerwyn Price 6-4 Mark Stephenson

Ronny Huybrechts 6-2 Callum Loose

Ian White 6-0 Kevin Garcia

Mario Robbe 6-5 Nathan Rafferty

Kim Huybrechts 6-2 Eddie Dootson

Josh Payne 6-2 James Richardson

James Wade 6-1 Michael van Dijk

Mark Walsh 6-2 Nathan Aspinall

Dave Chisnall 6-1 Adrian Gray

Scott Taylor 6-1 William O'Connor

Ryan De Vreede 6-4 Daryl Gurney

Kurt Parry 6-3 Kevin McDine

Mark Webster 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Mick Todd 6-5 Michael Barnard

Benito van de Pas 6-3 Ricky Williams

Dean Stewart 6-1 Rowby-John Rodriguez

Steve Beaton 6-4 Jason Wilson

Darron Brown 6-4 Nigel Daniels

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Nathan Derry

Kevin Thomas 6-4 Wilco Vermeulen

Chris Quantock 6-4 Vincent van der Voort

Martin Lukeman 6-4 Alan Tabern

Gary Anderson 6-0 Ryan Searle

Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Dennis Smith

Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Darren Webster

Jon Jukes 6-3 Ross Twell

Jamie Lewis 6-0 Jonathan Worsley

Steve Hine 6-3 Harry Ward

Michael Smith 6-3 Prakash Jiwa

Mick McGowan 6-3 Willy van de Wiel

Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Ryan Harrington

Wayne Jones 6-5 Robbie Green

Mervyn King 6-4 Ricky Sudale

Nolan Arendse 6-5 Shaun Griffiths

Brendan Dolan 6-1 Sam Head

Matt Padgett 6-5 Gary Stone

Richie Corner 6-2 Justin Pipe

Ryan Palmer 6-2 Andy Jenkins

Stuart Kellett 6-3 Jamie Caven

Steve Lennon 6-3 Paul Nicholson

Andrew Gilding 6-1 Michael Burgoine

Mark Barilli 6-0 Eikichi Nakanishi

Ryan Murray 6-0 Robert Thornton

Paul Milford 6-1 Mark Dudbridge

John Henderson 6-4 Jonny Clayton

Ting Chi Royden Lam 6-1 Michael Huntley

Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Dyson Parody

Scott Dale 6-4 Mark Westgarth

Richard North 6-4 Alan Norris

David Pallett 6-5 Jamie Bain

Kyle Anderson 6-3 Dawson Murschell

Jan Dekker 6-5 Warrick Scheffer

Third Round

Peter Wright 6-3 Martin Thomas

Cristo Reyes 6-3 Ian Lever

Simon Whitlock 6-1 Madars Razma

Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Joe Cullen

Chris Dobey 6-4 Rob Cross

Stephen Bunting 6-2 John Bowles

Gerwyn Price 6-1 Ronny Huybrechts

Ian White 6-3 Mario Robbe

Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Josh Payne

James Wade 6-2 Mark Walsh

Dave Chisnall 6-4 Scott Taylor

Ryan De Vreede 6-5 Kurt Parry

Mick Todd 6-3 Mark Webster

Benito van de Pas 6-0 Dean Stewart

Steve Beaton 6-2 Darron Brown

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Kevin Thomas

Chris Quantock 6-5 Martin Lukeman

Gary Anderson 6-3 Luke Woodhouse

Ron Meulenkamp 6-3 Jon Jukes

Jamie Lewis 6-2 Steve Hine

Michael Smith 6-3 Mick McGowan

Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Wayne Jones

Mervyn King 6-1 Nolan Arendse

Brendan Dolan 6-4 Matt Padgett

Ryan Palmer 6-4 Richie Corner

Steve Lennon 6-4 Stuart Kellett

Mark Barilli 6-3 Andrew Gilding

Ryan Murray 6-5 Paul Milford

John Henderson 6-4 Ting Chi Royden Lam

Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Scott Dale

Richard North 6-5 David Pallett

Jan Dekker 6-3 Kyle Anderson

Losers £250

Fourth Round

Peter Wright 6-5 Cristo Reyes

Simon Whitlock 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena

Chris Dobey 6-1 Stephen Bunting

Ian White 6-5 Gerwyn Price

James Wade 6-1 Kim Huybrechts

Dave Chisnall 6-3 Ryan De Vreede

Benito van de Pas 6-1 Mick Todd

Steve Beaton 6-2 Michael van Gerwen

Gary Anderson 6-2 Chris Quantock

Jamie Lewis 6-3 Ron Meulenkamp

Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Michael Smith

Brendan Dolan 6-5 Mervyn King

Ryan Palmer 6-3 Steve Lennon

Mark Barilli 6-4 Ryan Murray

Jelle Klaasen 6-5 John Henderson

Richard North 6-4 Jan Dekker

Losers £750


Fifth round

Simon Whitlock 6-3 Peter Wright

Ian White 6-2 Chris Dobey

Dave Chisnall 6-5 James Wade

Steve Beaton 6-4 Benito van de Pas

Gary Anderson 6-3 Jamie Lewis

Brendan Dolan 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld

Ryan Palmer 6-1 Mark Barilli

Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Richard NorthLosers £1,500

Quarter-Finals

Simon Whitlock 6-5 Ian White

Dave Chisnall 6-5 Steve Beaton

Gary Anderson 6-1 Brendan Dolan

Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Ryan Palmer

Losers £2,000

Semi-Finals

Simon Whitlock 6-2 Dave Chisnall

Gary Anderson 6-3 Jelle Klaasen

Losers £2,500

Final

Simon Whitlock 6-4 Gary Anderson

Winner £10,000

Runner-Up £5,000

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