Wolverhampton darters must wait to play

Wolverhampton darters Wayne Jones and Dean Stewart will sit out the first round at the PDC's UK Open before playing for a spot in the evening session.

Jones picked up the most winnings of all of the West Midlands darters in the four qualifying events by netting £1,250 after two board finals,

That leaves 'the Wanderer' exempt from competition until the second round at Butlins in Minehead, with the ITV4 cameras present.

The 49-year-old from Wednesfield must wait to find out his opponent, too, after Joey ten Berge and Brett Claydon meet on board eight.

Stewart, a thrower on the Challenge Tour, has qualified for the tournament for the sixth year running and won't know of his opponent beforehand.

He will toe the oche on board five with either Johnny Haines or James Richardson, who will earlier meet in the first round.

Dudley's Mark Jones, Stourbridge's Nick Fullwell and wildcard qualifier Matthew Tedstone will all vie for a spot in the second round soon after the curtain raiser.

Jones faced Jason Wilson with the winner to meet either Steve West or Colin Fowler, while Fullwell will be paired with Ronny Huybrechts if he can beat Lee Evans.

Smethwick's Tedstone will face the other open qualifier from Rileys Sports Bar in Wolverhampton, Stuart White, in the preliminary round so one will play twice in the afternoon.

All of the first day will operate under first to five legs, before the longer format starts to come in with best of 17 rules in the third round, which will start tomorrow night.

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