The 2022 Cazoo UK Open was a professional darts tournament that was held from 4 to 6 March 2022 at Butlin's Minehead, England, returning to the venue after the 2021 edition was held behind closed doors at the Arena MK in Milton Keynes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the twentieth edition of the tournament to be organised by the Professional Darts Corporation.
James Wade was the defending champion after defeating Luke Humphries 11âÂÂ5 in the 2021 final, but he lost 10âÂÂ4 to Keane Barry in the quarter-finals.
Danny Noppert won his first PDC major tournament, beating Michael Smith 11âÂÂ10 in the final after Smith had a dart for the title.
The tournament saw three nine-dart finishes. José Justicia hit the first in his third round game against Adam Gawlas. Defending champion James Wade also hit one during his sixth round game against Boris KrÃÂmar. Michael Smith hit another in his own sixth round game against Mensur SuljoviÃÂ.
The 158 participants entered the competition incrementally, with 63 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. <br/>
The prize fund remained at ã450,000.
The 128 Tour Card holders had a staggered entry based on their world ranking on 28 February 2022. They were joined by the top 4 players from each of the 2021 UK & European Challenge & Development Tour Orders of Merit, and by the winners of 16 Amateur Qualification events organised through Rileys Sports Bars.
The top 4 ranked players from the 2021 UK Development Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2022 season qualified for the first round.
The top 4 ranked players from the 2021 European Development Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2022 season qualified for the first round.
The top 4 ranked players from the 2021 UK Challenge Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2022 season qualified for the first round.
The top 4 ranked players from the 2021 European Challenge Tour Order of Merit who didn't have a Tour Card for the 2022 season qualified for the first round. Steven Noster chose not to compete and was replaced in the rankings by Lukas Wenig.
The winners of qualifiers organised by Rileys Sports Bars, held through January and February 2022, qualified for the first round. Entry to these tournaments was open to all players who had not qualified via another method, regardless of PDC Membership status.