Defending champion Luke Humphries halted the remarkable run of Beau Greaves at the Czech Darts Open, securing a 6‑2 win on Saturday night and ending the young star’s historic day. The Englishman’s steady performance, highlighted by an average just under 109, propelled him into the last‑16 round, where he will meet Andrew Gilding on Sunday afternoon after Gilding dispatched Nathan Aspinall with the same 6‑2 scoreline. Greaves, who had made history the previous evening by becoming the first woman ever to claim a victory on a European Tour stage, opened her match with a flawless 13‑dart leg.
Humphries answered quickly, hitting a 12‑dart leg followed by a 14‑dart finish, establishing an early lead. The three‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion showed great tenacity, narrowing the deficit to a single leg with her second visit to the oche.
However, Humphries then rattled off three consecutive legs, sealing the encounter and demonstrating why he remains one of the sport’s most consistent performers. Speaking after 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 respect for the 19‑year‑old was evident, and his composure under pressure underscored his status as a top‑ranked competitor. Meanwhile, 17‑year‑old Luke Littler made a striking return to the European Tour in Prague.
The teenage prodigy faced Germany’s Niko Springer and produced a dazzling 108.59 average, cruising to a comfortable victory. Littler’s performance signaled that his earlier successes on the Development Tour are translating to the senior circuit, and his confidence appeared to grow with each throw. The day also featured a series of notable wins from established stars. World No 1 Michael van Gerwen, fresh from retaining his World Matchplay crown, recorded a 6‑4 triumph, setting up a clash with Krzysztof Ratajski, who had dispatched Jermaine Wattimena 6‑2 earlier.
Van Gerwen’s relentless pursuit of his first Czech Darts Open title continued as he moved into the third round, where he will meet fellow Dutchman Wessel Nijman in what promises to be an exciting showdown. Dutch youngster Gian van Veen displayed his growing pedigree by overwhelming Jeffrey De Graaf 6‑1, and he now prepares to face Ross Smith in round three.
Van Veen, fresh from his Hungarian Darts Trophy win, is eager to secure back‑to‑back European Tour victories. Welsh representatives Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price also progressed to the final day. Clayton beat Damon Heta, while Price overcame Callan Rydz, ensuring both will feature in the Sunday lineup. Price will meet Cameron Menzies after the Scotsman eliminated fellow countryman Gary Anderson 6‑3, whereas Clayton is slated to play Keane Barry, who earned his spot with a 6‑4 win over seeded Chris Dobey.
In the Northern Irish contingent, Josh Rock overcame Ryan Joyce, and Irishman William O’Connor dispatched Ryan Searle, setting up a compelling third‑round encounter between the two. Their matches highlighted the depth of talent across the British Isles and added another layer of intrigue to the tournament’s knockout phase.
Stephen Bunting, a former UK Open champion, suffered a disappointing loss to Luke Woodhouse in the final match of the day. Woodhouse, who posted an average above 105, secured a 6‑4 victory and will face Dutchman Danny Noppert, who had previously beaten Kevin Doets 6‑1. Woodhouse’s strong finish underscored his resurgence and positioned him as a potential dark horse in the remaining rounds. The tournament schedule for Sunday includes the last‑16 matches in the early afternoon, followed by quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and the final in a packed evening session.
Fans can track the action via Sky Sports, which continues to be 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). Streaming options are also available through NOW without a contract, ensuring that enthusiasts worldwide can follow every dart thrown in Prague and beyond.