UK Open Darts 2026: Predictions, Betting Odds and Favourites
The third PDC tournament of 2026 will take place from 6 to 8 March. The main favourite is Luke Littler, who would become only the fifth player to win in Minehead in consecutive years if he lifts the trophy again.
Who will win the 2026 UK Open?
Who can realistically challenge Littler in Minehead and why the UK Open remains a magnet for shock results is exactly what we explore in this preview.
Favourites for the 2026 UK Open
The leading contender for any PDC title remains unchanged for now. Luke Littler is still world number one and the outright favourite for virtually every event he enters. After a superb 2025 season, the teenager has carried that form into the new year, winning the first two PDC tournaments of 2026, the World Championship and the World Masters.
However, the incredibly high standard set by the world number one could also work against him. After lifting the World Masters title, Littler looked less convincing in the Premier League, where he lost to Michael van Gerwen (4:6) and twice to Jonny Clayton (1:6, 3:6). The Premier League format goes to 11 legs, where Littler appears less comfortable, but the dip in scoring statistics, from a 103,8 average at the World Masters to 96,5 in his most recent matches, is still a worrying sign.
2026 UK Open Favourites
His namesake and closest rival in the market, Luke Humphries, sits second in the odds. The Englishman came very close to beating Littler in the World Masters final but eventually fell short (5:6). Humphries looks solid heading into the UK Open, although unlike the other contenders he has never lifted the trophy in Minehead, losing two finals in 2021 (5:11) and 2024 (10:11).
Gerwyn Price may well be hitting peak form at the age of 40 after dismantling Andrew Gilding in the recent Players Championship final (8:1). Judging by his preparation for the UK Open, the Iceman looks in excellent shape, posting huge scoring averages in recent matches: 109,48 against Scott Waites and 102,82 in the final against Andrew Gilding.
A fast start could allow Price to push Littler all the way for the title. However, if Littler drags him into a long battle, the Welshman’s chances may decrease.
The new outsider breaking into the Luke rivalry, Gian van Veen, made headlines in 2026 with the highest tournament average at the 2026 World Championship (108,28). In the quarter-finals he eliminated Luke Humphries with a 105,41 average. The final against Littler was a different story, as the title again went to Luke (1:7). Still, if anyone knows how to beat the world number one, it is Van Veen, who managed three wins over Littler in 2025.
Completing the top five is Michael van Gerwen, a three-time UK Open champion (2015, 2016, 2020). Experience is on the Dutchman’s side: he is the best UK Open performer after Phil Taylor and ranks in the top three for average score in the tournament’s history (100,6).
Van Gerwen reminded everyone of his quality in 2026 by winning the opening night of the Premier League against Gian van Veen (6:4), although illness disrupted his preparation for the UK Open.
UK Open Format and Prize Money
The UK Open remains the most unpredictable tournament in the PDC calendar because of its traditional non-seeded structure. The draw is completely open from each round starting with the fourth, when the top 32 players enter the competition.
Another unique feature of the UK Open is that matches are played simultaneously across eight stages. Unlike other PDC events, the arena in Minehead often feels chaotic. Amateur and junior players, who are used to throwing darts in pubs, usually handle it well, while favourites can occasionally struggle with the atmosphere.
The match format also changes as the tournament progresses:
-
Round 1 — Round 3. Best of 11;
-
Round 4. Best of 19;
-
Semi-finals and final. Best of 21.
Prize money has also increased this year. The PDC has been experiencing a real boom in recent seasons, and players can earn just over a thousand pounds even for winning a first-round match. The tournament is open to amateurs as well, so anyone can dream.
2026 UK Open prize money
|
Stage |
Prize money (per player), £ |
|
Final |
120,000 |
|
Semi-Final |
60,000 |
|
Quarter-Final |
35,000 |
|
Last 16 |
20,000 |
Bloody Friday: who could upset the favourites at the 2026 UK Open
The main feature of the tournament is Bloody Friday, when all top 32 players enter the competition. Since there is no seeding, an unfortunate draw can send many favourites crashing out immediately.
Another important factor is that the top players usually enter the action in the final time slot. By then, many opponents have already played several matches, adapted to the stages or simply found their rhythm. That is why the fourth round often produces a huge number of shocks.
Top-32 eliminations in the fourth round of the UK Open (2023 — 2025)
|
Year |
Eliminated (%) |
|
2023 |
12 (37.5%) |
|
2024 |
11 (34.8%) |
|
2025 |
13 (40.6%) |
Considering that amateurs take part in the early rounds and there is no fixed bracket due to the format, betting on matches before at least the last 16 is something of a lottery. Instead, it may be worth looking at several players who could trouble the favourites on Friday evening.
2026 UK Open Dark horses
|
Player |
Average score (2026) |
Checkout, % |
|
Wessel Nijman |
98.42 |
42.1 |
|
Dylan Slevin |
94.15 |
44.8 |
Nijman has started 2026 strongly, reaching two PDC Championship finals and winning one of them. An average close to 98 is a genuine top-10 level. Winning the entire tournament at odds of
20/1
may be unlikely, but the Dutchman could certainly make some noise in Minehead.
Slevin reached the last 16 last year and has every chance of repeating that run. Nearly 45% on checkouts is extremely valuable in the short formats played on Friday, so even if he faces one of the top names, backing the young Irishman at long odds could still be worth a small stake.
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