Teenage prospect Kyle Gilding will make his Ladbrokes UK Open debut in March, after advancing through the PDC in the Community Qualifiers in Syston last weekend. The 16-year-old – who is poised to make his Winmau Development Tour debut later this month – will now make his televised bow at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from March […]
Teenage prospect Kyle Gilding will make his Ladbrokes UK Open debut in March, after advancing through the PDC in the Community Qualifiers in Syston last weekend.
The 16-year-old – who is poised to make his Winmau Development Tour debut later this month – will now make his televised bow at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from March 6-8.
Gilding is one of the latest players to have advanced through the PDC in the Community Qualifiers following his success at the Syston Brookside Club, with Jack Todd, Clive Langford and Callum Francis also sealing their spots in the 160-player field.
Todd prevailed in the Flights Sports & Social Club in Fleetwood last month, while Langford and Francis came through events at the Out Out Bar in Newport and Worthies Sports & Social Club in Kings Worthy respectively.
Francis – a carpenter by trade – has been a regular fixture on the circuit over recent years, featuring in a Winmau Challenge Tour quarter-final in November 2024.
There will be a further four PDC in the Community Qualifiers confirmed within the next fortnight, as the series concludes in Plymouth, Worksop, Enderby and Alfreton.
Additionally, four of the eight Rileys Amateur Qualifiers for next month’s showpiece have also been confirmed, with Sean Ryan, Daniel Lee and Oliver King booking their qualification for the Minehead event.
Ryan – who competed on the Players Championship circuit over a decade ago – prevailed in the Aberdeen Qualifier on January 31, while Lee will make his third UK Open appearance following his success in Saturday’s Coventry Qualifier.
Norwich-based King, who has previously competed on the Development Tour, will also make his televised debut alongside fellow newcomer Neil Wild, who celebrated success in the Solihull Qualifier last month.
Chorlton and Liverpool will host events on Saturday February 14 and Sunday February 15 respectively, whilst Harlow and finally London Victoria will stage the final two events the following weekend.
Entries for the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers will cost £15 and are available through the Rileys website – with entry open to all players over the age of 16 who do not hold a PDC Tour Card.
Online entries will close at 1700 GMT on the day before a qualifying event takes place.
Please note that some venues cannot permit entries for under-18s. Please see the Rileys website for full details.
2026 PDC in the Community Qualifiers:
Flights Sports & Social Club, Fleetwood: Jack Todd
OutOut Bar, Newport: Clive Langford
The Syston Brookside Club, Syston: Kyle Gilding
Worthies Sports & Social Club, Kings Worthy: Callum Francis
Enderby & District Social Club, Enderby: TBC
Legends Darts Lounge, Plymouth: TBC
Manton Sports Club, Worksop: TBC
Somercotes Snooker Club, Alfreton: TBC
2026 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers:
Solihull: Neil Wild
Aberdeen: Sean Ryan
Coventry: Daniel Lee
Norwich: Oliver King
Chorlton: TBC (Feb 14)
Liverpool: TBC (Feb 15)
Harlow: TBC (Feb 21)
London Victoria: TBC (Feb 22)