Defending champion Luke Humphries halted Beau Greaves' historic momentum at the Czech Darts Open, securing a 6‑2 win on Saturday night. The Englishman’s steady play and high scoring ensured that the young Welsh star’s breakthrough was short‑lived, and Humphries now moves into the last‑16 stage of the tournament.
In a parallel storyline, teenage sensation Luke Littler made a triumphant return to the European Tour in Prague, adding another victory to his rapidly growing résumé. Meanwhile, seasoned campaigners Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price all posted round‑two successes, underscoring the depth of talent on display. The day also saw a surprising upset as Stephen Bunting fell to Luke Woodhouse in the final match of the session, ending Bunting’s run earlier than expected.
Greaves had made history just a day earlier, becoming the first woman ever to claim a match win on a European Tour stage. Her landmark achievement sparked a wave of excitement across the darts community.
However, Humphries, who averaged just under 109 points per three darts, proved too formidable for the 21‑year‑old. He entered the contest with a 13‑dart perfect leg, but Greaves answered with a 13‑dart leg of her own, showing she could match the world‑number‑two’s precision. The world‑number‑two responded with a 12‑dart and a 14‑dart leg, taking an early lead. Greaves, a three‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion, displayed remarkable resilience, narrowing the gap to a single leg with her second winning leg.
Yet Humphries surged ahead, stringing together three consecutive legs to clinch the match. 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 respect for Greaves was evident, and his comments highlighted the growing competitiveness of women’s darts on the professional circuit. 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 a compelling clash between the two seasoned campaigners. Littler’s return to the European Tour was nothing short of spectacular. He faced Germany’s Niko Springer and posted an eye‑catching 108.59 average, a figure that would be impressive for any player, let alone a teenager.
His composure under pressure and scoring power suggest a bright future on the tour. World number one Michael van Gerwen, fresh off retaining his World Matchplay crown, entered the Prague event with a strong performance, winning 6‑4 and earning a showdown with Krzysztof Ratajski, who had defeated Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2 earlier in the day. Gian van Veen demonstrated his dominance by cruising to a 6‑1 victory over Jeffrey De Graaf.
He now awaits Ross Smith in round three, aiming to become the first player to win back‑to‑back European Tour titles after his Hungarian Darts Trophy triumph the previous week. Welsh duo Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price also progressed to the final day.
Clayton overcame Damon Heta, while Price dispatched Callan Rydz, setting up further high‑profile matches. Price will meet Cameron Menzies, who beat fellow Scot Gary Anderson 6‑3, and Clayton will take on rising Irish talent Keane Barry, who secured his place with a 6‑4 win over seeded Chris Dobey. Van Gerwen’s quest for his inaugural Czech Darts Open crown continued as he edged past Mario Vandenbogaerde 6‑4, advancing to a marquee encounter with fellow Dutchman Wessel Nijman. Nijman had just survived a nail‑biting finish against Martin Schindler, where Schindler hit a brilliant 170 checkout but missed a crucial double in the decider, allowing Nijman to snatch the win.
Northern Irish hopeful Josh Rock will face Irishman William O'Connor after both players dispatched their respective opponents, Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle, to book round‑three spots. Luke Woodhouse capped off the evening with a polished 6‑4 triumph over Stephen Bunting, averaging over 105. His next opponent will be Dutch veteran Danny Noppert, who posted a convincing 6‑1 victory over Kevin Doets earlier in the session. 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 schedule.
Fans can tune in to Sky Sports for live coverage, with additional streaming options available via NOW without a contract. Upcoming major darts events include the World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October), Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January).