The defending champion, Luke Humphries, halted Beau Greaves' groundbreaking run at the Czech Darts Open with a decisive 6‑2 win on Saturday night, ensuring his place in the last‑16 stage of the tournament. Luke Littler also marked a strong return to the European Tour in Prague, securing a victory that highlighted his growing reputation on the circuit. Meanwhile, round two produced further notable wins for Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price, each reinforcing their status as serious contenders.
In contrast, Stephen Bunting suffered a disappointing loss to Luke Woodhouse in the day's final match, ending his campaign earlier than hoped. Greaves had made history the previous day, becoming the first woman ever to win a match on a European Tour stage. However, Humphries, who posted an impressive average just under 109, curtailed her momentum and booked his spot in the next round. The match began with Greaves firing a rapid 13‑dart leg, but the world No.
2 quickly responded with legs of 12 and 14 darts of his own, establishing an early lead. The three‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion showed remarkable resilience, narrowing the deficit to a single leg with her second winning leg. Nevertheless, Humphries surged ahead, claiming three consecutive legs to seal the encounter.
After the match, Humphries praised his opponent: "She’s an amazing player, she pushed me all the way. It was a couple of bits towards the end of the match that got me through in the end.
She's just a great dart player. If I had lost today, I wouldn't have been disgraced; I would have lost to a really great dart player." The next round will see Humphries face Andrew Gilding on Sunday afternoon. Gilding, a former UK Open champion, dispatched Nathan Aspinall 6‑2 in his own match, setting up an intriguing clash between two seasoned competitors. Littler’s comeback to the European Tour stage was equally impressive.
He defeated Germany’s Niko Springer with a stunning average of 108.59, demonstrating the precision and composure that have become his trademarks. World No. 1 Michael van Gerwen, making his first major appearance since retaining the World Matchplay title, continued his strong form by winning 6‑4, which sets up a showdown with Krzysztof Ratajski, who overcame Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2 in the opening game of the day.
Gian van Veen ran away with a 6‑1 triumph over Jeffrey De Graaf and will meet Ross Smith in round three. Van Veen, fresh off his Hungarian Darts Trophy win last week, is looking to secure back‑to‑back victories on the European Tour after a convincing 6‑1 win over Stephen Burton. Welsh pair Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price also advanced to the final day in Prague.
Clayton beat Damon Heta, while Price dispatched Callan Rydz, ensuring both will feature in the later stages of the event. Price’s next opponent will be Cameron Menzies, who eliminated fellow Scot Gary Anderson 6‑3.
Clayton, on the other hand, will face Keane Barry, who earned his place with a 6‑4 victory over seeded player Chris Dobey. Michael van Gerwen’s quest for his first Czech Darts Open title remains alive after a 6‑4 win over Mario Vandenbogaerde, moving him into round three where he will encounter fellow Dutchman Wessel Nijman in what promises to be a marquee tie. Nijman secured his spot by edging out Martin Schindler in a dramatic finish. The German produced a brilliant 170 checkout before missing a crucial high‑score dart in the deciding leg, allowing Nijman to clinch the match.
Northern Irish contender Josh Rock will face Irishman William O'Connor after both men recorded wins over Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle respectively, setting up a compelling battle in round three. Luke Woodhouse capped off the evening with a superb 6‑4 victory over Stephen Bunting, averaging over 105 and demonstrating why he is a threat on any stage.
Woodhouse’s next challenge will be against Dutchman Danny Noppert, who breezed past Kevin Doets 6‑1. The tournament will progress to the last‑16 on Sunday afternoon, followed by quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final in a packed evening session.
The schedule is as follows: - Afternoon session: 12:00 BST - Evening session: 18:00 BST Fans can continue to follow the action on Sky Sports, which remains the primary broadcaster for darts, covering upcoming events such as the World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January). Live streams and additional coverage are also available via NOW without a contract, ensuring that enthusiasts can keep up with every throw and triumph throughout the season.