Some of the biggest names in world darts - Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Raymond van Barneveld - are set to compete at the UK Open

No less than 154 darts players will battle it out to become the 2021 UK Open winner.

The competition, which is commonly known as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’, sees players drawn against one another out of a hat with no seedings in play.

Its unique format has drawn comparisons to football’s oldest club competition - the FA Cup - with all PDC Tour Card holders invited to compete.

Some of the biggest names in world darts - Michael van Gerwen (pictured), Gerwyn Price and Raymond van Barneveld - are set to compete at the UK Open. (Pic: Getty Images)

The world’s top 32 players, including reigning champion Michael van Gerwen, world number one Gerwyn Price and former UK Open champions Peter Wright, Gary Anderson, James Wade, Nathan Aspinall and Adrian Lewis, will join the competition at the fourth round stage.

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When does the UK Open Darts 2021 start?

Players of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) will compete for 2021 UK Open glory over the weekend of 5-7 March.

Where will the UK Open Darts 2021 take place?

In 2021, the UK Open is taking place behind closed doors due to restrictions on mass gatherings and sporting events due to the Covid pandemic.

The players will compete at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes rather than the tournament’s usual home of the Butlins Minehead Resort.

What is the UK Open Darts 2021 draw?

The draw for the first three rounds of the 2021 UK Open have been made, with five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld returning to the big stage.

The Dutchman will take on Scottish fireman Alan Soutar for a place in the third round. Here’s the rest of the selected ties for the UK Open:

First Round:

Geert Nentjes v Richie Burnett

Brett Claydon v Danny Baggish

Keelan Kay v Kevin McDine

Boris Koltsov v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

Berry van Peer v Martin Schindler

Geert De Vos v Niels Zonneveld

Adam Gawlas v Gino Vos

Zoran Lerchbacher v Jim Williams

Gordon Mathers v Kirk Shepherd

John Brown vs Gavin Carlin

Second Round:

Scott Waites v Steve Brown

Keane Barry v Nentjes/Burnett

Andy Hamilton v Edhouse/Mol

Alan Soutar v Raymond van Barneveld

Aaron Beeney v Lisa Ashton

Martin Atkins v Bradley Brooks

Martijn Kleermaker v Wayne Jones

Lerchbacher/J Williams v Mathers/Shepherd

Jeff Smith v Van Peer/Schindler

Jon Worsley v Andrew Gilding

Luc Peters/Lewy Williams v Scott Mitchell

Third Round:

Beeney/Ashton v Darius Labanauskas

Max Hopp v William O'Connor

James Wilson v Keegan Brown

Mark McGeeney v Steve Beaton

Ted Evetts v Darren Webster

J Smith/Van Peer/Schindler v Kleermaker/W Jones

Justin Pipe v Luke Humphries

John Henderson v Matt Edgar

Damon Heta v Siepmann/D Evans

Andy Boulton v Jelle Klaasen

Soutar/Van Barneveld v Mickey Mansell

What is the UK Open Darts 2021 format?

The first three rounds of the UK Open will see competitors play out in the best of 11 legs, with the first to register six leg wins advancing to the next stage.

Rounds four, five, six and the quarter finals work on a best of 19 legs; while the semi-final and final of the competition will be played out in the best of 21 legs.

The quarter finals will begin in the afternoon session of Sunday 7 March. The evening session will conclude the tournament with both semi-finals and the final being played.

What is the UK Open Darts 2021 prize money?

The winner of the 2021 UK Open will receive £100,000 in prize money from an overall pot of £450,000, which will be distributed through the rounds.

The runner up will receive £40,000, each semi-finalist will pocket £20,000 and quarter-finalists will earn £12,500.

Last 16 players will receive £7,500 before the prize money decreases for the last 32 (£4,000), last 64 (£2,000) and the last 96 (£1,000).

Who is favourite to win the 2021 UK Open Darts?

As of Friday 5 March, Michael van Gerwen is favourite to win the 2021 UK Open with the online bookies offering odds of 9/2 according to website oddschecker.com.

Gerwyn Price is priced at 6/1, Peter Wright 10/1, Johnny Clayton 12/1 and Joe Cullen at 16/1 with PaddyPower, WilliamHill, BetFair, BetFred and BoyleSports.

How can I watch the UK Open Darts 2021?

The UK Open is being screened live on ITV4.

On Friday 5 March, coverage starts at 12pm and runs through to 5pm. The evening session starts at 7pm and finishes at 11pm.

On Saturday 6 March, coverage starts at 12.30pm and finishes at 5pm before the evening session between 7-11pm.

On Sunday 7 March, coverage starts at 12.45pm and runs through to 5pm before the evening session between 7-11pm.

UK Open Darts 2021: draw, prize money, format, latest odds and how to watch the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ on TV