Beau Greaves is set to earn a high‑stakes encounter with world number two and defending champion Luke Humphries, should she overcome Daryl Gurney in the opening round of the European Tour’s Czech Darts Open. The tournament, which runs from September 4 to 6 at the PVA EXPO, promises a packed schedule and a series of marquee match‑ups that could reshape the tour’s leaderboard.
Humphries entered the 2024 season by defeating Kim Huybrechts in the final and then successfully defended his title by beating Josh Rock last year. With two consecutive victories already under his belt, the Englishman is now chasing a third straight win at the Czech event, a feat that would cement his dominance on the European circuit. His recent form has been impressive, and his confidence appears to be soaring as he prepares for another deep run.
The opening day on Friday will feature 16 matches spread across a double‑session format, delivering nonstop action for fans. Among those fixtures, the rivalry between Gurney and Greaves will be reignited on a big stage, echoing their clash at the previous year’s World Darts Championship. Their previous encounter was a five‑set thriller at Alexandra Palace, where Gurney ultimately prevailed. This time, Greaves is determined to reverse the result and secure a landmark victory that could propel her into the Saturday evening showdown with Humphries.
Greaves impressed on her European Tour debut last week, posting an average of 104.88 in a loss to Rob Cross. That performance highlighted her scoring power and composure under pressure. If she can replicate or improve upon that level against Gurney, she will not only advance but also send a clear message to the rest of the field that she is a genuine contender for the title.
Meanwhile, the tournament’s top‑16 seeds, as determined by the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, will receive a bye into the second round. World number one Luke Littler, a rising star who has not competed on a European Tour since the Belgian Darts Open in March, will make his return in Prague.
Littler’s first‑round opponent will be either Niko Springer or Slovakian hopeful Martin Homola, setting up an intriguing early test for the young Englishman. Dutch number one Gian van Veen will await the winner of the Niels Zonneveld versus Jeffrey de Graaf match, while Michael van Gerwen could find himself in an all‑Dutch showdown against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who opens his campaign against Mario Vandenbogaerde.
In another high‑profile pairing, Callan Rydz will take on Cristo Reyes, with the victor earning the right to face sixth seed Gerwyn Price. The Hungarian Darts Trophy champion Ross Smith is also back, aiming for back‑to‑back European Tour titles. He will face either Joe Cullen or Stephen Burton in his opening match. Gary Anderson’s path could lead him to a clash with his World Cup partner Cameron Menzies or Sweden’s Johan Engström, depending on the draw.
After the Friday fixtures, the tournament will move into its second round on Saturday, where the 16 seeded players will join the 16 first‑round winners. The schedule is divided into an afternoon session (1300 local time, 1200 BST) and an evening session (1900 local time, 1800 BST). The intensity will increase as the field narrows, and each match will be played under the best‑of‑11‑legs format until the quarter‑finals, which will shift to best‑of‑13, and the final, which will be contested over best‑of‑15 legs.
The weekend will culminate on Sunday with the last‑16 matches in the afternoon, followed by quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and the championship match in a blockbuster evening session. Fans can expect a blend of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers battling for the coveted title, with the added drama of potential upsets and breakout performances. Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts in 2026, delivering live coverage of the World Grand Prix (September 28‑October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). In addition to traditional TV coverage, viewers can stream the action and other top‑level sports without a contract, ensuring that the excitement of the Czech Darts Open reaches a global audience.
Overall, the Czech Darts Open promises a compelling mix of high‑caliber darts, emerging talent, and the ever‑present possibility of surprise results. Whether Greaves can topple Gurney and then challenge Humphries, or whether Littler’s return will spark a new wave of competition, the tournament is set to deliver memorable moments for players and fans alike.