Defending champion Luke Humphries halted Beau Greaves' historic surge at the Czech Darts Open, securing a 6-2 win on Saturday night. The Englishman’s victory not only ended the young woman’s remarkable run but also cemented his place in the last‑16 of the tournament. Meanwhile, teenage prodigy Luke Littler made a triumphant return to the European Tour in Prague, adding another win to his growing résumé. The day also featured solid second‑round performances from Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price, each progressing comfortably to the next stage.
In contrast, former UK Open champion Stephen Bunting suffered a disappointing loss to Luke Woodhouse in the final match of the day, ending his hopes of a deep run. Greaves had made history just a day earlier by becoming the first woman ever to win a match on a European Tour stage. Her breakthrough sparked excitement across the darts community, but Humphries proved a formidable opponent.
He posted an average just shy of 109, a figure that underscored his dominance and ensured his passage into the round of 16. The match began with Greaves delivering a flawless 13‑dart leg, signalling her intent. Humphries responded swiftly, taking legs of 12 and 14 darts to seize an early lead.
The three‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion displayed great resilience, narrowing the gap to a single leg with her second winning leg. However, Humphries then rattled off three consecutive legs, sealing 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." His comments highlighted both respect for Greaves and confidence in his own performance. The next round will see Humphries face Andrew Gilding on Sunday afternoon.
Gilding, a former UK Open champion, earned his spot by dispatching Nathan Aspinall 6‑2, showcasing his own high‑calibre form. Littler’s comeback was equally impressive.
The young Englishman faced Germany’s Niko Springer and produced a stunning 108.59 average, a figure that would be impressive for any player, let alone a teenager returning after a hiatus. Littler’s precision and composure suggested that his early promise is translating into consistent results on the senior circuit. World No 1 Michael van Gerwen, who was making his first major appearance since retaining the World Matchplay title, continued his march with a 6‑4 win, setting up a clash with Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, who had defeated Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2 earlier in the day. Van Gerwen’s form remains a benchmark for the field, and his pursuit of a maiden Czech Darts Open crown adds intrigue.
Gian van Veen produced a dominant 6‑1 victory over Jeffrey De Graaf and will meet Ross Smith in the third round. Van Veen, fresh from winning the Hungarian Darts Trophy, is aiming for back‑to‑back European Tour titles, a feat that would elevate his standing considerably.
Welsh representatives Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price also progressed. Clayton overcame Damon Heta, while Price dispatched Callan Rydz, securing their places on the final day. Price’s next opponent will be Cameron Menzies, who earned his spot by beating fellow Scot Gary Anderson 6‑3.
Clayton will face Keane Barry, who advanced with a 6‑4 win over seeded Chris Dobey. Van Gerwen’s quest for the Czech Darts Open trophy continued as he moved into round three with a 6‑4 triumph over Mario Vandenbogaerde.
He will now meet compatriot Wessel Nijman in what promises to be a marquee tie. Nijman earned his place by edging out Martin Schindler in a dramatic finish that featured a brilliant 170 checkout followed by a missed double that allowed Nijman to clinch the match. Northern Irish contender Josh Rock will battle Irishman William O'Connor after both players dispatched their respective opponents—Rock beat Ryan Joyce, while O'Connor overcame Ryan Searle—to secure round‑three berths. Luke Woodhouse closed the evening’s action with a superb 6‑4 win over Stephen Bunting, averaging over 105.
His next challenge will be against Dutchman Danny Noppert, who had previously beaten Kevin Doets 6‑1. The tournament now heads into the last‑16 stage on Sunday afternoon, followed by quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final in a packed evening session. Fans can track the action via Sky Sports, which will also broadcast upcoming major 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). For those without a Sky subscription, live streaming is available through NOW with no contract required.