The field of Amateur Qualifiers for the Ladbrokes UK Open 2026 is now complete, with the final four places decided last weekend through the PDC in the Community Qualifiers and the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers. The tournament, set for March 6-8 at Butlin's Minehead Resort, features 160 players, including all 128 Tour Card holders, the top eight from both the Development Tour and Challenge Tour Order of Merit, and sixteen Amateur Qualifiers.
Aden Kirk secured his return to the UK Open via the PDC in the Community Qualifier at Somercotes Snooker Club in Alfreton, marking his third appearance in Minehead. Kirk famously made history at the 2014 UK Open by eliminating 16-time world champion Phil Taylor and reaching the last 16, also defeating Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright in that edition. The 33-year-old from Derbyshire, a Winmau Challenge Tour winner in 2024, showcased his class again by beating Connor Bowler 6-3 with a 92 average in the decisive final.
Samuel Whittaker also booked his place by winning the Community Qualifier in Enderby, defeating Ryan Hawkes 5-3 in the final for his television debut. Whittaker, who featured at UK Q-School in January, overcame former Lakeside finalist Mark McGeeney 5-3 in the semi-finals. Lewis Pearse and Jake Eichen completed the quartet via the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers in Harlow and London Victoria, respectively. Pearse edged through in a nerve-racking last-leg decider against Joe Croft, surviving multiple match darts to secure his debut, while Eichen emerged as the winner from a 142-player field in London Victoria for his first TV appearance.
The full list of Amateur Qualifiers includes: from the PDC in the Community Qualifiers—Jack Todd (Fleetwood), Clive Langford (Newport), Kyle Gilding (Syston), Callum Francis (Kings Worthy), Simon Stevenson (Plymouth), Graham Usher (Worksop), Samuel Whittaker (Enderby), and Aden Kirk (Alfreton); and from the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers—Neil Wild (Solihull), Sean Ryan (Aberdeen), Daniel Lee (Coventry), Oliver King (Norwich), Callum Goffin (Chorlton), Ron Meulenkamp (Liverpool), Lewis Pearse (Harlow), and Jake Eichen (London Victoria).
