Beau Greaves is set to meet a formidable test in the form of world number two and defending champion Luke Humphries, provided she can overcome Daryl Gurney in the opening round of the European Tour's Czech Darts Open. The stakes are high, as a victory would thrust her into a Saturday evening clash with Humphries, who has been in dominant form this season. Humphries entered the 2024 season by defeating Kim Huybrechts in the Czech Open final, and he successfully defended that title last year by beating Josh Rock. The Englishman is now eyeing a third straight triumph at the PVA EXPO, which runs from September 4 to September 6, and will be eager to add another trophy to his growing collection.
Friday's first round will feature sixteen matches spread across a packed double‑session schedule. Among those fixtures, the long‑standing rivalry between Gurney and Greaves will be reignited on the big stage, echoing their dramatic encounter at the previous year's World Darts Championship. That earlier meeting saw Gurney prevail after a tense five‑set battle at Alexandra Palace, a result that still fuels the competitive fire between the two. Greaves made a strong impression on her European Tour debut last week, posting an impressive average of 104.88 in a loss to Rob Cross.
She will be looking to convert that performance into a breakthrough win over Gurney, which would not only be a personal milestone but also secure a place against Humphries later in the day. The tournament format gives the top sixteen players on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder a bye into the second round. Among those seeded players, world number one Luke Littler is making his first European Tour appearance since the Belgian Darts Open in March, adding another intriguing storyline to the event.
Humphries' opening opponent will be either Niko Springer or Slovakian newcomer Martin Homola, while Dutch No. 1 Gian van Veen will await the winner of the Niels Zonneveld versus Jeffrey de Graaf tie. Michael van Gerwen could find himself in an all‑Dutch showdown against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who will meet Mario Vandenbogaerde in the first round. Meanwhile, Callan Rydz and Cristo Reyes will battle for the right to face sixth seed Gerwyn Price.
The Hungarian Darts Trophy champion Ross Smith is also on a quest for back‑to‑back European Tour titles, beginning his campaign against either Joe Cullen or Stephen Burton. Gary Anderson will be drawn against either his World Cup partner Cameron Menzies or Sweden's Johan Engström, adding further depth to the opening day roster.
After Friday's action, the tournament will progress to the last‑16 stage on Sunday afternoon, followed by the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final in a high‑octane evening session. The schedule is as follows: Round One Afternoon Session starts at 13:00 local time (12:00 BST), with the Evening Session beginning at 19:00 local time (18:00 BST). Round Two follows the same timing pattern, and Round Three will be contested as best‑of‑11 legs in both afternoon and evening slots. The quarter‑finals remain best‑of‑11, the semi‑finals extend to best‑of‑13, and the championship match will be a best‑of‑15 legs showdown.
All players are seeded according to their position on the PDC Ranking, ensuring that the highest‑ranked competitors are spread throughout the draw. Sky Sports continues its role as the primary broadcaster for darts in 2026, offering 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). Fans can also stream the action and other top‑level sports without a contract, while additional content such as highlights, podcasts, and video analysis remain readily available. In summary, the Czech Darts Open promises a blend of seasoned champions, rising stars, and intense rivalries.
Beau Greaves has the chance to make a statement by defeating Daryl Gurney and then testing herself against the formidable Luke Humphries. Meanwhile, Luke Littler's return to the European Tour adds another layer of intrigue.
With a full schedule of matches, a mix of best‑of‑11, best‑of‑13, and best‑of‑15 formats, and extensive broadcast coverage, the tournament is set to deliver high‑quality darts action for fans across the globe.