Team Unicorn’s three times World Champion John Part produced three terrific performances on day one of the UK Open Finals.
And the Canadian will face Dutchman Ron Meulenkamp in the last 32.
The tournament was only given the go-ahead at the 11th hour because of the heavy snow and freezing conditions.
Other Unicorn players who have made it through to the last 32 are Gary Anderson, James Wade, Kim Huybrechts, Michael Smith, Chris Dobey, Ian White, Kyle Anderson and Keegan Brown.
But for Part, a fantastic day and the first time the Canadian has won three matches at a TV tournament since the 2012 Grand Slam. He lost only four legs in those three victories.
“I felt really good all day and confidence was a factor. It’s great to be winning again!” he said.
He started with a 6-2 victory over qualifier John Morris and followed up with a brilliant display to whitewash Paul Whitworth. And Part then brushed aside David Evans 10-2.
Gary Anderson averaged 98 as he saw off Lancashire’s Robert Rickwood 10-3. The Unicorn star looked very good and hit four ton plus finishes- 145, 120, 120 as well as 121 on the bull.
Michael Smith has been bullish about his chances of a first TV ‘Major’ and he made a good start as he was too good for Kirk Shepherd winning 10-5.
Dobey was a convincing 10-2 winner in the all Unicorn 3rd Round clash with Harry Ward, but the youngster can be proud of his achievements. He came to Minehead as a qualifier. He beat Daniel Lee 6-0 and another Unicorn player Ted Evetts before losing out to Dobey.
Brown won an all Unicorn clash with Joe Cullen 10-8. Cullen missed chances to force a deciding leg.
Kyle Anderson found his form as he beat Vincent van der Voort 10-7, while Ian White held off a Simon Whitlock fightback. White led 6-1 and eventually got over the line 10-7 against the Aussie.
James Wade looked comfortable in beating Simon Stevenson 10-6, while Kim Huybrechts had to play well to edge out young German Gabriel Clemens 10-8.
Jelle Klaasen will be kicking himself though. The Unicorn new boy came from 3-7 down to lead Daryl Gurney 9-7. He then missed match darts and ended up losing 10-9.
Three Unicorn players fell at the first hurdle in Minehead. Dimitri van den Bergh suffered a shock 6-3 defeat at the hands of Lee Evans as he paid a heavy price for a host of missed doubles. Adam Hunt was edged out 6-4 by Kirk Shepherd and Ted Evetts was beaten 6-1 in that all Unicorn clash with Harry Ward.
It was a night of big shocks. Defending UK Open Champion Peter Wright lost 10-9 to young Irishman Nathan Rafferty, Michael van Gerwen was stunned 10-8 by Jeffrey de Zwaan and Adrian Lewis went down 10-5 to Dirk van Duijvenbode......other big names to fall included Raymond van Barneveld and Dave Chisnall.
4th Round Draw:
Paul Hogan v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Rob Cross v KYLE ANDERSON
JOHN PART v Ron Meulenkamp
Robert Owen v Nathan Rafferty
CHRIS DOBEY v Jason Lowe
KEEGAN BROWN v Kristof Ratajski
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Gerwyn Price
Steve West v Matthew Edgar
GARY ANDERSON v Ricky Evans
Stephen Bunting v Jermaine Wattimena
Mervyn King v Jonny Clayton
Corey Cadby v Martin Schindler
Jamie Hughes v IAN WHITE
Daryl Gurney v KIM HUYBRECHTS
Ryan Meikle v MICHAEL SMITH
David Pallett v JAMES WADE
Story from STUART PYKE in Minehead
Image courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC
