2024 UK Open: Steve Beaton Bows Out in Third Round Farewell

In the third round of the 2024 Ladbrokes UK Open, the darting excitement continued to unfold with 64 players again vying for victory. This time, the field included competitors ranked from 33rd to 64th on the PDC Order of Merit, who earned a bye into this round. As the first afternoon session of the event drew to a close, three more gripping matches graced the mainstage, concluding the thrilling action of the initial three rounds. 

For a comprehensive overview of the Round Three results, simply continue scrolling through this article.

In the opening third-round clash on the Butlins Minehead mainstage, Latvian sensation Madars Razma squared off against Austrian competitor Rowby-John Rodriguez, both having advanced to this stage with byes from the initial rounds. 

While Razma initially struggled to find his rhythm, he managed to secure an early advantage, relying on his consistent scoring, particularly with treble 19s, to build a commanding 4-1 lead. 

However, Rodriguez staged a remarkable comeback, showcasing his resilience by winning the next four legs. His surge was punctuated by three impressive ton-plus checkouts of 140, 136, and 106 respectively, before sealing the victory with a bullseye checkout on 72, clinching the match 6-4 after claiming five consecutive legs.

In what marked his final appearance at the UK Open after participating in all 22 editions, Steve Beaton graced the mainstage with a bittersweet farewell as he announced his impending retirement from the PDC circuit at the season's end. 

The Bronzed Adonis encountered a challenging match against Josh Payne, with an early opportunity to break Payne's throw slipping away after Beaton missed five crucial darts at a double. Both players struggled to find their rhythm, reflected in their below-par averages, resulting in a tightly contested affair where each player held throw in the opening exchanges, leaving the game deadlocked at 3-3. 

Payne then elevated his performance, securing a pivotal 121 three-dart checkout followed by a crucial break of throw to claim a 5-3 lead. Despite Beaton's valiant efforts to claw his way back into the contest, forcing a last-leg decider, Payne remained composed, sealing the victory with a composed 80 checkout, and ending Beaton's illustrious UK Open journey with a touch of pain for his devoted supporters in the crowd.

In the final third-round showdown of the tournament, Leonard Gates, an amateur qualifier from the London Victoria Riley's event, faced off against Welshman Jim Williams. Gates showcased his prowess from the outset, capitalising on missed opportunities by Williams to surge to an early 3-0 lead.

Despite Williams clawing back a leg, Gates demonstrated relentless precision at the oche, maintaining a three-dart average well above 90 and extending his lead to 5-1. With remarkable consistency, Gates secured a convincing 6-2 victory over Williams, solidifying his position as the lowest-ranked player to advance to the next round of the competition.

Image credit: PDC