Defending champion Luke Humphries halted the remarkable progress of Beau Greaves at the Czech Darts Open, securing a 6‑2 win on Saturday night and ending the young woman's historic streak. The event in Prague also saw Luke Littler make a strong comeback to the European Tour, while Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price all recorded second‑round victories. In contrast, Stephen Bunting was knocked out by Luke Woodhouse in the day’s final match.
Greaves had made headlines the previous day by becoming the first female player ever to claim a win on a European Tour stage. Her breakthrough, however, was short‑lived. Humphries, who entered the match with an average just under 109, out‑performed her and booked his place in the last‑16.
Greaves opened the contest with a flawless 13‑dart leg, but the world No. 2 quickly responded with legs of 12 and 14 darts, establishing an early lead.
The three‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion showed great resilience, narrowing the deficit to a single leg with her second winning leg, yet Humphries then rattled off 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." His comments highlighted the respect he has for Greaves and underscored the significance of her achievement despite the loss.
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, demonstrating his own high‑level form. Luke Littler’s return to the European Tour stage was equally impressive. The teenage prodigy defeated Germany’s Niko Springer with a stunning average of 108.59, signalling that his talent remains undiminished despite his brief hiatus.
Littler’s performance added another exciting storyline to the tournament, as he continues to build a reputation as one of darts’ rising stars. World No.
1 Michael van Gerwen, fresh from retaining his World Matchplay title, entered his first major appearance of the season with a 6‑4 win, setting up a clash with Krzysztof Ratajski, who had beaten Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2 earlier in the day. Van Gerwen’s presence adds a marquee element to the event, and his quest for a maiden Czech Darts Open crown intensifies the competition. Gian van Veen produced a dominant 6‑1 victory over Jeffrey De Graaf and will meet Ross Smith in round three. Van Veen, fresh from winning the Hungarian Darts Trophy, is looking to secure back‑to‑back titles on the European Tour, a feat that would cement his status among the circuit’s elite.
Welsh duo 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 Cameron Menzies, who eliminated fellow Scot Gary Anderson 6‑3. Clayton will face Keane Barry, who earned his place by beating seeded player Chris Dobey 6‑4. Van Gerwen’s pursuit of the Czech Darts Open trophy continued as he moved into round three with a 6‑4 triumph over Mario Vandenbogaerde. He will now face compatriot Wessel Nijman in what promises to be a highlight of the afternoon session.
Nijman earned his spot by surviving a tight battle with Martin Schindler, during which the German produced a brilliant 170 checkout before missing a crucial double in the deciding leg, allowing Nijman to snatch the win. Northern Irish contender Josh Rock will meet Irishman William O’Connor after both players secured victories over Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle respectively, setting up a compelling all‑Irish showdown in the third round. Luke Woodhouse closed the evening’s action with a commanding 6‑4 win over Stephen Bunting, averaging over 105.
Woodhouse’s performance earned him a quarter‑final clash with Dutchman Danny Noppert, who had previously defeated 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. The schedule is as follows: - Afternoon session: 12:00 BST - Evening session: 18:00 BST Fans can continue to follow the drama on Sky Sports, which remains the primary broadcaster for darts. Upcoming marquee events include 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).
All these tournaments, along with live coverage of the Czech Darts Open, are available for streaming via NOW without a contract, ensuring that enthusiasts can keep up with the sport’s biggest moments.