The ČEZ Czech Darts Open exploded into action on Saturday afternoon, delivering a wave of upsets as five top-seeded players crashed out. Unseeded challengers showcased incredible form, with high averages and nail-biting finishes defining the second round. Dutch sensation Danny Noppert stood out with a dominant performance, but the day truly belonged to the underdogs who fought their way into Sunday’s last 16, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
Darts Drama Unfolds: Seeds Stumble in Prague
The second round of the ČEZ Czech Darts Open, the 12th European Tour event of 2026, kicked off with a bang at PVA Expo Praha. Fans witnessed a captivating afternoon filled with unexpected results, impressive scoring, and matches decided by the narrowest of margins. The tournament landscape was dramatically reshaped as five seeded players were eliminated, paving the way for several unseeded talents and in-form contenders to advance to the Last 16.
Unseeded Challengers Make Their Mark
The afternoon session was a testament to the growing depth in professional darts, with several unseeded players demonstrating their prowess:
- Krzysztof Ratajski delivered a clinical display, dismantling 16th seed Jermaine Wattimena with a commanding 6-2 victory and a superb 101.53 average. The Pole continues his impressive run on the European Tour.
- William O’Connor caused the first significant upset of the session, overcoming Ryan Searle 6-4 in a tightly contested match. The Irishman consistently performs above expectations on the Euro Tour stage.
- Rising star Keane Barry extended his giant-killing spree. After defeating Rob Cross on Friday, he claimed another seeded scalp by beating 13th seed Chris Dobey 6-4, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with.
- Cameron Menzies produced one of the most eye-catching performances, confidently defeating former world champion Gary Anderson 6-3 with a solid 95.82 average. The Scot’s confidence is clearly soaring.
- “Goldfinger” Andrew Gilding made a strong statement, racing to a 5-0 lead before closing out a dominant 6-2 win against 16th seed Nathan Aspinall.
Noppert Shines as Other Favorites Hold Strong
While many seeds faltered, some established names lived up to their billing:
- Dutch ace Danny Noppert, known as “The Freeze,” was in impeccable form. He ruthlessly whitewashed fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets 6-1, posting a superb 101.34 average. Noppert looked clinical and progressed comfortably.
- Wessel Nijman emerged victorious from a thrilling encounter against home favorite Martin Schindler, winning 6-5 after Schindler heartbreakingly missed match darts. Nijman narrowly edged a high-quality match and solidifies his position as one of the Euro Tour’s most in-form players this season.
- Ross Smith was equally ruthless, thrashing Stephen Burton 6-1 with a strong 97.70 average. The Englishman’s sharp play suggests he’s in excellent form following recent successes.
Afternoon Session Results at a Glance (Round 2)
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena (Seed 16 Eliminated)
- William O’Connor 6-4 Ryan Searle (Seed Eliminated)
- Danny Noppert 6-1 Kevin Doets
- Cameron Menzies 6-3 Gary Anderson (Seed Eliminated)
- Wessel Nijman 6-5 Martin Schindler
- Keane Barry 6-4 Chris Dobey (Seed 13 Eliminated)
- Ross Smith 6-1 Stephen Burton
- Andrew Gilding 6-2 Nathan Aspinall (Seed 16 Eliminated)
The afternoon session has thus set a compelling lineup for the Last 16, featuring a balanced mix of seeded survivors like Noppert, Nijman, and Smith, alongside dangerous outsiders such as Ratajski, O’Connor, Menzies, Barry, and Gilding. The stage is now perfectly set for Sunday’s decisive matches.
Anticipation Builds for Star-Studded Evening Session
Attention now shifts to the highly anticipated evening session, which promises even more darting fireworks. Kicking off from 19:00 local time (18:00 BST), fans can look forward to seeing some of the biggest names in darts:
- World number one Luke Littler makes his European Tour return, facing Niko Springer.
- Two-time defending champion Luke Humphries takes on history-maker Beau Greaves.
- Other stars in action include Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, and Gerwyn Price, all vying for a spot in the next round.
With so many top players and rising talents still in contention, the ČEZ Czech Darts Open is shaping up to be an unforgettable event.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
