Defending champion Luke Humphries halted Beau Greaves' historic momentum at the Czech Darts Open, securing a 6‑2 triumph on Saturday night. The English star’s victory not only ended Greaves’ groundbreaking run but also guaranteed him a place among the last sixteen competitors.
The event in Prague also saw the return of teenage sensation Luke Littler to the European Tour, where he delivered a commanding performance. Meanwhile, second‑round successes were recorded by Michael van Gerwen, rising Dutch talent Gian van Veen, and seasoned Welshman Gerwyn Price. In contrast, former UK Open winner Stephen Bunting suffered a disappointing loss to Luke Woodhouse in the day’s final match. Greaves had made headlines the previous day by becoming the first woman ever to claim a win on a European Tour stage.
Her achievement was a milestone for the sport, but Humphries proved a tough obstacle. He posted an average just shy of 109, a figure that underscored his dominance and secured his progression to the round of 16.
The match began with Greaves firing a perfect 13‑dart leg, signalling that she was ready to challenge the world’s No. 2. Humphries quickly responded, taking legs of 12 and 14 darts to seize an early lead. The three‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion displayed considerable resilience, narrowing the deficit to a single leg with her second visit to the board.
However, Humphries then rattled off three consecutive legs, sealing the encounter. After the win, 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, dispatched Nathan Aspinall 6‑2 earlier in the day, setting up a compelling showdown between the two experienced campaigners. Littler’s return to the European Tour stage was nothing short of spectacular. He faced Germany’s Niko Springer and posted an eye‑catching 108.59 average, a figure that would make any veteran proud.
The young Englishman’s composure under pressure suggested a bright future on the professional circuit. World No.
1 Michael van Gerwen, fresh from retaining his World Matchplay crown, continued his strong form with a 6‑4 victory, earning a clash with Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, who had earlier beaten Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2. Van Gerwen’s aggressive style and high scoring kept him firmly in contention for his first Czech Darts Open title. Gian van Veen produced a dominant 6‑1 win over Jeffrey De Graaf and will meet Ross Smith in round three.
Van Veen, fresh off a Hungarian Darts Trophy triumph, is eyeing back‑to‑back European Tour victories. Welsh pair Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price also progressed to the final day. Clayton overcame Damon Heta, while Price dispatched Callan Rydz.
Price’s next opponent will be Scotland’s Cameron Menzies, who had beaten compatriot Gary Anderson 6‑3, whereas Clayton will meet Ireland’s Keane Barry, who secured his spot with a 6‑4 win over seeded Chris Dobey. Michael van Gerwen’s quest for his inaugural Czech Darts Open trophy continued as he moved into the third round with a 6‑4 win over Mario Vandenbogaerde. He will face fellow Dutchman Wessel Nijman in what promises to be an exciting tie. Nijman had survived a tight battle against Martin Schindler, where the German hit a spectacular 170 checkout before missing a crucial double in the decider, allowing Nijman to snatch the match.
Northern Irish representative Josh Rock will square off against Irishman William O'Connor after both players recorded wins over Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle, respectively, to book their round‑three places. Luke Woodhouse closed the evening’s action with a superb 6‑4 victory over Stephen Bunting, posting an average above 105. Woodhouse’s win sets up a showdown with Dutchman Danny Noppert, who had previously dispatched Kevin Doets 6‑1.
The tournament now moves 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). Live streaming is available through NOW with no contract required.