Ladbrokes UK Open darts: first-round betting preview and free tips

Free darts tips, best bets and analysis for the first round of the Ladbrokes UK Open at Butlin’s Minehead.

Where to watch

ITV4, midday, Thursday

Best bets

Stefan Siepmann
2pts 13-8 Betfred

Cody Harris
2pts 11-10 general

Alan Tabern
1pt 6-5 Betfred, Hills, Sky Bet

Ladbrokes UK Open first-round preview

European Q School graduate Stefan Siepmann has yet to land many blows in his fledgling main-tour career, but the German is well worth chancing to enjoy a winning debut at the Ladbrokes UK Open.

Siepmann showed plenty of bottle just getting through Q School – he had to win the final qualifier, seeing off Zoran Lerchbacher and Wesley Harms.

The 33-year-old is still finding his feet but he beat Luke Humphries to qualify for the European Grand Prix and he should have few fears taking on Poland’s Krzysztof Kciuk. The Pole also qualified at European Q School but only as a lucky loser.

• Ladbrokes UK Open tournament preview

Cody Harris also chanced his arm at European Q School, narrowly missing out, and finds himself on the Challenge Tour. The Kiwi is a World Cup quarter-finalist who has not let himself down on two previous tilts at Alexandra Palace and he has more than enough about him to see off Scott Taylor.

Fifteen years after first appearing at the UK Open Alan ‘The Saint’ Tabern is back and he can put young whippersnapper Keane Barry in his place.

Tabern is in good nick. He suffered the indignity of having to go back to Q School, but looked sharp over those four days and has carried on by seeing off Ryan Searle and Ricky Evans in qualifying for the European Grand Prix. The leftie can use all his experience to win.

All three matches are first-round affairs over a best-of-11 legs.

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