Defending champion Luke Humphries halted Beau Greaves' groundbreaking run at the Czech Darts Open, securing a 6‑2 triumph on Saturday night and moving into the last‑16 stage. Greaves, who had made history the previous day by becoming the first woman ever to claim a victory on a European Tour stage, saw her momentum checked by Humphries, who posted an impressive average just shy of 109 to seal the win. The evening also featured a strong showing from Luke Littler, who returned to the European Tour in Prague with a dominant performance.
Littler dispatched Germany’s Niko Springer, posting a dazzling 108.59 three‑dart average, and demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the sport’s rising stars. Meanwhile, other top names continued to progress: Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price all recorded second‑round victories, keeping their titles hopes alive. In a surprising twist, Stephen Bunting was beaten by Luke Woodhouse in the day’s final match, ending Bunting’s campaign earlier than expected.
Woodhouse’s 6‑4 win was highlighted by an average exceeding 105, underscoring his sharp form heading into the next round. Greaves entered the match against Humphries after a historic Friday, where she broke new ground for women’s darts by winning her first European Tour match. She opened the contest with a flawless 13‑dart leg, setting an early tone.
However, the world‑number‑two quickly responded, taking legs of 12 and 14 darts to seize an early lead. Greaves showed resilience, narrowing the gap to a single leg with her second visit to the board, but Humphries then rattled off three consecutive legs, effectively clinching the encounter. Reflecting on the match, Humphries praised Greaves, saying, "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 the respect he holds for the young Englishwoman and the significance of her achievement.
Looking ahead, Humphries will meet Andrew Gilding on Sunday afternoon. Gilding, a former UK Open champion, earned his place by defeating Nathan Aspinall 6‑2, showcasing a blend of experience and precision that could test the defending champion. Littler’s return to the European Tour stage was nothing short of spectacular. After his 108.59 average win over Springer, he continued his march by overcoming his next opponent with a similarly high standard of play, confirming that his earlier successes were no fluke.
His composure under pressure and ability to sustain high scoring bursts make him a formidable contender as the tournament progresses. The world‑number‑one, who was making his first major appearance since retaining the World Matchplay title, also enjoyed a smooth passage, beating his opponent 6‑4 and setting up a clash with Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, who had dispatched Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2 earlier in the day.
Gian van Veen produced a convincing 6‑1 victory over Jeffrey De Graaf and now faces Ross Smith in round three. Van Veen, fresh from winning the Hungarian Darts Trophy the previous week, is eager to secure back‑to‑back European Tour titles, having already dispatched Stephen Burton 6‑1. Welsh representatives Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price also progressed to the final day in Prague.
Clayton overcame Damon Heta, while Price beat Callan Rydz, ensuring that both will feature in the Sunday lineup. Price is slated to meet Cameron Menzies, who eliminated fellow Scot Gary Anderson 6‑3, whereas Clayton will take on Keane Barry, who secured his spot with a 6‑4 win over seeded player Chris Dobey.
Michael van Gerwen’s quest for his first Czech Darts Open crown continued unabated. He advanced to round three with a 6‑4 win over Mario Vandenbogaerde and will now confront fellow Dutchman Wessel Nijman in what promises to be a marquee showdown. Nijman, who survived a tight encounter with Martin Schindler earlier in the afternoon, displayed nerves of steel, capitalising on a missed big finish from Schindler after a spectacular 170 checkout to snatch the win.
Northern Irish hopeful Josh Rock will meet Irishman William O'Connor after both players recorded victories over Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle respectively, setting up a compelling third‑round duel. The evening concluded with Luke Woodhouse’s decisive 6‑4 victory over Stephen Bunting, a match in which Woodhouse’s high scoring and steady checkout rate propelled him forward. He now awaits Dutch qualifier Danny Noppert, who posted a dominant 6‑1 win over Kevin Doets, in the next round.
The tournament’s schedule 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 tune in to the afternoon session at 12:00 BST and the evening session at 18:00 BST.
Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for darts, covering upcoming marquee 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). Viewers can also stream live darts and additional content via NOW without a contractual commitment.