AINSTY ace Martyn Turner will be gunning for revenge when darts’ UK Open gets under way at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium tonight.
If Turner can overcome first round opponent Tommy Little – an unknown Speedy Hire qualifier – he is on course to meet two-time World Championship semi-finalist Colin Monk in his next game and that clash would represent a rematch of a classic 2007 encounter between the two players.
In the same competition at the same venue, Rawcliffe-based Turner surrendered a 7-3 lead to lose 8-7 to Monk in front of the Sky cameras.
It is a ghost the York player is keen to exorcise, saying: “I should have won 8-3 because I had doubles that I missed and, even though the game was televised live, it was only the last five legs, which I lost, so I owe him big style.
“There was also a power cut during the match and I’ve played him once in Ireland when we had to go off because the sun was shining too brightly through a glass roof so they’re normally quite eventful matches between me and Colin. If we both get through to the second round, we will be playing on the same stage as last time on board two and it would be another big game for £1,000.
“I’d feel confident of my chances though. I feel relaxed this year and have thrown a few 13-dart legs recently.”
Turner has beaten Monk twice in seven encounters but, if they are to meet for an eighth occasion, he will first need to dispose of Little, who booked his place at the “FA Cup of Darts” by being one of the highest scorers in the sponsors’ qualifying tournament, which saw each player only throw 15 darts.
About his opponent, world number 90 Turner said: “All I know is that his nickname is Tommy “Have It Large” Little. I don’t know if he plays a good standard or just for fun but you cannot take anything for granted, especially when it’s only first to four legs. You can soon be in trouble if you miss a few doubles.”
The Miller Food delivery driver, though, harbours aspirations of reaching the final day of the four-day contest, just like fellow Minsterman and his best pal Chris Thompson achieved three years ago when he reached the quarter-finals.
“I want to get to that Sunday,” Turner confessed. “There’s always one ace in the pack in this competition. It was Chris in 2008 and Gary Rawson got to the final a couple of years ago so why not me?”
Thompson, who turned 40 last week, admitted he has a difficult opening game when he tackles Nigel Heydon with the pair the two highest-ranked players to be randomly subjected to preliminary round action.
The Acomb-based “Hitman” lies just one place behind the 52nd-ranked Heydon in the PDC Order of Merit and Thompson believes whoever wins the game should enjoy a straightforward passage into tomorrow night’s third round when the likes of leading lights Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson will be entering the fray.
He said: “I’ve never played Nigel but he’s a good player who, like me, qualified for the last World Championships. It will be an extremely tough game. I don’t think either of us should have to play in the preliminary round but the prospect of playing three games tonight does not bother me. It’s just a short format – the best of seven legs – which is what you do as county players.
“Whoever wins between me and Nigel should get through to the third round and, if I can get over that first hurdle, there’s no reason why I can’t get to that final day again. I had a poor start to the year but I’ve been picking up recently.
“I played really well in the last tournament at Crawley and beat Barrie Bates, who is widely recognised as one of the best floor players on the circuit.
“I also beat Ken MacNeil 6-5 and I don’t think there was a leg over 15 darts. It was one of the best games I’ve ever played in.”
Whitwell-on-the-Hill’s Terry Temple, meanwhile, will make it a hat-trick of North Yorkshire hopefuls when he marks his Bolton debut with a first-round tie against world number 25 Co Stompe. Having earned his place on the 2011 PDC tour through the qualifying school, Temple has already claimed the scalps of former world champion Jelle Klaasen three times, as well as Premier League regulars Terry Jenkins, Kevin Painter and Alan Tabern.
Temple, 49, said: “I fancy my chances against Co because I always seem to do better against decent players and I believe in my ability. If I’m playing somebody of my own standard I have a tendency to let my guard down for a couple of legs and you can’t afford to do that.”
Coverage will start on Sky Sports at 7pm tonight.
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