The Czech Darts Open delivered high drama in its second round, with teenage sensation Luke Littler once again proving too strong for Germany’s Niko Springer in a hard-fought match. While many top seeds like Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, and Michael van Gerwen advanced, not everyone had an easy ride. The day’s biggest surprise saw Stephen Bunting, despite an impressive average, fall to Luke Woodhouse, setting the stage for an electrifying final day of competition.
A Day of High Averages and Close Calls
Littler vs. Springer: A Rematch Delivers
The highly anticipated rematch between **Niko Springer** and **Luke Littler** lived up to expectations. Having met previously at the World Matchplay, where Littler eventually pulled away for a 10-6 victory, their encounter in Prague was equally intense. Littler, often referred to as a “Double-World Champion” for his impressive youth and senior achievements, showcased an **average of almost 110** (meaning he scored nearly 110 points per three darts thrown), while Springer put up a valiant effort, staying just under 100. Despite a strong performance, Springer ultimately lost 4-6.
The match saw moments of brilliance from both players:
- Springer saved his first throw with a spectacular **129 checkout** (finishing on D18-D18 to win the leg).
- He narrowly missed a 161 checkout, keeping the score at 2-2.
- However, three missed doubles on his own throw allowed Littler to surge ahead to 5-2.
- Springer fought back with two 14-dart legs, but couldn’t stop Littler’s decisive **11-dart break** (winning a leg against the throw) to seal the win.
Top Seeds Flex Their Muscles
Several other top players demonstrated their class with impressive performances and high averages.
Luke Humphries Dominates Beau Greaves
**Luke Humphries**, known as “Cool Hand Luke,” faced **Beau Greaves**, who had made history as the first woman to win a match on the European Tour. Humphries delivered an exceptional performance with a **109 average** to secure a 6-2 victory. Despite the scoreline, Greaves was far from a mere participant:
- She won the first leg in just 13 darts.
- Maintained contact at 2-3 with a strong 96 checkout.
However, Humphries’ sheer brilliance, needing no more than 15 darts for any of his legs, ultimately proved too much.
Gerwyn Price Cruises Past Callan Rydz
“The Iceman” **Gerwyn Price** comfortably defeated **Callan Rydz** 6-2. Price was dominant on his own throw, not allowing Rydz many opportunities. After Rydz managed to win his first two legs against the throw, he couldn’t keep pace. Price secured a **12-dart break** to go 4-2 up, then closed out the match with a 16-dart finish against the darts.
Gian van Veen’s Strong Start
**Gian van Veen** kicked off the evening session with a convincing 6-1 win over **Jeffrey de Graaf**. De Graaf missed crucial doubles in the opening legs, allowing Van Veen to capitalize, including a clinical **100 checkout** to lead 3-0. Although De Graaf got on the scoreboard with a 71 finish, Van Veen quickly regained control, securing a comfortable victory.
Van Gerwen and Clayton Navigate Tricky Ties
Even the biggest names sometimes have to battle hard to secure their spot in the next round.
Michael van Gerwen’s Gritty Win
“MvG” **Michael van Gerwen** had a tougher challenge, battling to a 6-4 win against **Mario Vandenbogaerde**. His opponent missed several checkouts that could have forced a deciding leg. Van Gerwen quickly overcame early “double trouble” (struggling to hit the required double) with an **11-dart break** to lead 3-1, but the match remained tight until 5-4. Vandenbogaerde missed a crucial break dart and couldn’t hold his own throw, allowing Van Gerwen to seal the match with a 19-dart leg.
Jonny Clayton’s Efficient Victory
**Jonny Clayton**, “The Ferret,” capitalized on a less-than-stellar performance from **Damon Heta**, securing a 6-2 win. After Heta leveled at 1-1 with a 14-dart leg, Clayton broke with a superb **156 checkout** to go 3-1 up. He continued his strong form, finishing the match with another highlight, a **124 checkout**.
Rock Solid Performance and a Major Upset
The evening also featured a promising talent advancing and a significant upset that reshaped the tournament outlook.
Josh Rock Advances Comfortably
“Relentless” **Josh Rock** secured a solid 6-3 victory over **Ryan Joyce**. Rock started strong, hitting legs in 13, 14, and 16 darts. While Joyce managed to narrow the gap to 2-4 and 3-5, he couldn’t find a way back into the match on Rock’s throw.
The Shock of the Day: Woodhouse Stuns Bunting
The most surprising result of the evening saw **Stephen Bunting**, despite a **three-figure average**, lose 4-6 to **Luke Woodhouse**. Bunting opened with an 11-dart leg, but “Woody” quickly responded with a 12-dart leg, including a double-double finish. At 3-3, Woodhouse missed a 170 checkout but returned to break Bunting’s throw by clearing 160 points. He then sealed his impressive victory with a clinical **82 checkout in two darts**, finishing with an average over 105.
What’s Next: The Road to the Title
Sunday’s Schedule: Knockout Stages
The Czech Darts Open 2026 concludes on Sunday, September 6th, with a thrilling day of knockout darts. The **Afternoon Session, starting at 13:00 CEST**, will feature the Last 16 matches. The **Evening Session, beginning at 19:00 CEST**, will host the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Grand Final, where a champion will be crowned.
Last 16 Matches (Sunday Afternoon Session):
- Gerwyn Price vs. Cameron Menzies
- Gian van Veen vs. Ross Smith
- Josh Rock vs. William O’Connor
- Luke Humphries vs. Andrew Gilding
- Jonny Clayton vs. Keane Barry
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Wessel Nijman
- Luke Woodhouse vs. Danny Noppert
- Luke Littler vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, & Final (Sunday Evening Session):
The winners from the Last 16 will battle it out in a series of high-stakes matches.
- Quarter-Final 1: Price/Menzies vs. van Veen/Smith
- Quarter-Final 2: Rock/O’Connor vs. Humphries/Gilding
- Quarter-Final 3: Clayton/Barry vs. van Gerwen/Nijman
- Quarter-Final 4: Woodhouse/Noppert vs. Littler/Ratajski
The winners of these matches will then proceed to the Semi-Finals, culminating in the Grand Final.
Prize Money Breakdown
A total of **£230,000** is up for grabs at the Czech Darts Open. The winner will take home a substantial **£35,000**. It’s important to note that for prize money to count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit, players must win their first match. If they lose their opening game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to these ranking systems.
- Winner: **£35,000**
- Runner-Up: **£15,000**
- Semi-Finalists: **£10,000**
- Quarter-Finalists: **£8,000**
- Last 16: **£5,000**
- Second Round: **£3,500**
- First Round: **£2,000**
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
