The 2021 Ladbrokes UK Open was a darts tournament staged by the Professional Darts Corporation. It was the nineteenth year of the tournament where players compete in a single elimination tournament to be crowned champion. The tournament was held for the first time at the Arena MK in Milton Keynes, England, from 5 to 7 March 2021, and was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael van Gerwen was the defending champion after defeating Gerwyn Price 11âÂÂ9 in the 2020 final. However, he lost 11âÂÂ5 to Luke Humphries in the semi-finals.
Lisa Ashton became the first woman to win a match at the UK Open since 2005, defeating Aaron Beeney 6âÂÂ2 in Round 2, and also set a new world record for the highest televised average by a female player, with an average of 100.34. Sebastian Biaà Âecki, the first player born after the inaugural event in 2003 to play in the UK Open, hit a nine-dart finish in his opening round victory over Jim McEwan. Jitse van der Wal then hit a nine-dart finish against Biaà Âecki in the second round.
James Wade won his third UK Open title, and his first since 2011, with an 11âÂÂ5 victory over Luke Humphries in the final.
The prize fund remained at ã450,000. With the withdrawal of seven tour card players the field is reduced to 153 players.
There is a slight change in format for this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no Rileys amateur qualifiers could be held. In 2021, the top eight of both the UK and European Qualifying School Order of Merits who have not yet qualified for the tournament filled those 16 spots.
The 153 participants will enter the competition incrementally, with 50 players entering in the first round, with match winners joining the 32 players entering in the second and third rounds to leave the last 64 in the fourth round.
Boris KrÃÂmar, Daniel Larsson, Darren Penhall, Wesley Harms, Michael Unterbuchner and Robert MarijanoviÃÂ withdrew before the draw was made.
Cristo Reyes and Florian Hempel withdrew after the draw took place, so their opponents Jitse van der Wal (in round 1) and Ryan Joyce (in round 3) both got byes to their next respective rounds. Justin Pipe tested positive for COVID-19, meaning Luke Humphries received a bye to round 4.
The top 8 ranked players from the 2020 Development Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.
The top 8 ranked players from the 2020 Challenge Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.
The top 8 ranked players from the 2021 UK Qualifying School Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.
The top 8 ranked players from the 2021 European Qualifying School Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2021 season qualified for the first round.
With the withdrawal of the six Tour Card holders, six players received a bye to the second round.