STUART Kellett hopes history repeats when he returns this afternoon to the scene of one of his best performances in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
The Northwich darter reached the last 16 during the 2016 Coral UK Open at Minehead, a run that included a victory against then Premier League star Michael Smith.
He makes a sixth appearance at the event later today with a second-round meeting against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
“I’ve always seemed to do ok there so I’m hoping it’s a lucky venue for me,” said the 35-year-old, who was a runner-up there during the UK Masters in 2013.
“Fingers crossed that run continues this time around and I can enjoy similar success to last year.
“It’s a tough draw, but then there are no easy matches on the tour nowadays.
“I just hope my A game is there when I need it.”
Kellett landed a small psychological blow on the Dutchman when he won a deciding leg during their clash at a Players’ Championship event last Sunday.
It marks his first win in three matches between them.
The Cheshire ace fell to Robert Owen at the fourth-round stage – the furthest he has gone in one of those events in almost two years – after eliminating Stephen Burton (6-5), Antonio Alcinas (6-4) and then van Duijvenbode.
He added: “My form is ok.
“I’m growing in confidence again and have had a good start to the new season despite not winning back a tour card [in January].
“It was good for me the UK Open qualifiers followed so soon after Q School, where I felt I was bit unlucky before paying the price for a few missed doubles over the four days.”
Kellett, a PDC tour-card holder since 2012, missed out on keeping hold of one after losing a decisive leg against former world championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd.
However he has refused to be downbeat, and collected £1,500 at Barnsley last weekend.
He also qualified comfortably for this weekend’s UK Open after classifying 41st on the order of merit, banking £2,250 and narrowly falling short of a bye to the third round.
Annoyed not to do enough to be top 32 but well happy to qualify for the uk open finals which was the aim from the start. Roll on minehead 👊🏻
— Stuart Kellett (@StuKellett) February 12, 2017
“Making the cut seems to get harder each year, so to qualify after the first weekend was a big boost, more so when you consider a number of good players haven’t made it,” he added.
Coral UK Open
Explainer
Who is taking part?
The 2017 finals include 128 players – 96 professionals that secured a spot following six qualifiers played over two weekends and 32 amateurs who progressed through one-day knockout tournaments staged across the country.
They compete over three days at Butlins Resort
Click here to see the draw in full
Why has Stuart Kellett had a bye to the second round?
The first round features the players ranked from 65-96 in the UK Open order of merit and the 32 amateur qualifiers
The victors in those ties progress to the next stage, where Kellett – along with those other players that classified from 33-64 on the order of merit – enters the competition
The top 32 players on the order of merit make their bow in the third round on Friday evening
Click here to see the UK Open order of merit in full
Is the draw seeded?
No, it’s an open draw which means the top players could be pitted against each other at any stage
Can I watch on television?
ITV Sport will broadcast the action live, on ITV4, from 11.45am
Tell me the schedule
The preliminary round, first round and second round ties take place across eight boards during an afternoon session (11.45am-5pm) on Friday
Kellett is scheduled to take on van Duijvenbode on Stage Two
The third round takes place, again on eight stages, from 7pm the same day
The fourth and fifth rounds follow on Saturday before the remaining eight players meet in the quarter finals on Sunday afternoon
The semi-finals and final bring the tournament, which this year has an increased prize fund of £350,000, to a close on Sunday night
What about the format?
First and second round Best of 11 legs (first to six)
Third round through to quarter finals Best of 19 legs (first to 10)
Semi-finals and final Best of 21 legs (first to 11)
And the prize fund?
Winner £70,000
Runner-up £35,000
Semi-finalists £17,500
Quarter-finalists £11,500
Fifth round losers £6,500
Fourth round losers £3,500
Third round losers £1,750
Total £350,000
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