The Czech Darts Open has already delivered stunning upsets and historic moments! England’s Beau Greaves made history by becoming the first woman ever to win a match on the European Tour, defeating Daryl Gurney 6-4. Martin Schindler also fought his way into Saturday’s action with a crucial victory, shaking off a recent string of poor performances. However, the tournament saw several big names exit early, including former World Champion Rob Cross, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and all local Czech players, setting the stage for an unpredictable weekend.
Beau Greaves: A Historic First for Women’s Darts
Beau Greaves continues to etch her name into darts history, this time achieving a groundbreaking milestone at the Czech Darts Open. The English sensation became the first woman ever to win a match on the PDC European Tour, securing a remarkable 6-4 victory over Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney. This win also served as a belated revenge for a previous encounter against Gurney.
Greaves’ Dominant Performance
The match began with Gurney taking the opening leg, but he missed a crucial 144-finish that could have given him a 2-0 lead. He later hit a 144 checkout to go 3-1 up. However, Greaves swiftly responded, leveling the score with impressive 14 and 13-dart legs. She then took the lead for the first time with a phenomenal 11-darter. Despite Gurney missing another 144-finish, he managed to claim the leg. Greaves, undeterred, broke Gurney’s throw with a 77-finish, putting her within touching distance of victory. She then sealed her historic win on the ‘Madhouse’ (double 1).
Schindler Ends Losing Streak with Crucial Win
After suffering four consecutive first-round defeats on the European Tour, Germany’s Martin Schindler can finally breathe a sigh of relief. ‘The Wall’ secured a vital 6-4 victory over Rob Owen, ensuring his place in Saturday’s second round.
Schindler’s Match Highlights
Schindler started strong, opening with a 13-darter and a 90-finish. Owen found his first double in the third leg, but Schindler maintained control, holding his throw with an 80-finish to lead 4-2. A potential early decision slipped away as Schindler missed two doubles in the seventh leg, but he eventually hit double 12 to go 5-3 up. Owen scored well in this phase, effortlessly closing the gap to 4-5. However, Schindler clinched the match with a crucial 68-finish, securing £3,500 in prize money for the various rankings and allowing him to finally unleash his emotions after the match dart.
Favorites Fall: Big Names Crash Out
The first day of the Czech Darts Open also saw some unexpected exits, with several highly-ranked players failing to make it past the opening round.
Rob Cross’s Early Exit
Former World Champion Rob Cross delivered a subpar performance, leading to a 4-6 defeat against Ireland’s Keane Barry. The match was tight at 3-3, but Barry broke Cross’s throw with a 114-checkout to take a 4-3 lead, consolidating his advantage on double 6. Barry missed his first two match darts but then secured the win with a 13-darter, advancing to the second round.
Dirk van Duijvenbode’s Disappointing Display
After reaching two quarter-finals in recent European Tour events, Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode was a shadow of his usual self. He registered his second-worst European Tour average ever, managing only 77.51, in a 2-6 loss to Mario Vandenbogaerde. Vandenbogaerde, with an average of just over 80, was not spectacular but capitalized on Van Duijvenbode’s struggles, winning five consecutive legs. The only consolation for Van Duijvenbode was his automatic qualification for the World Series of Darts Finals due to a withdrawal.
Czech Hopes Dashed
All local Czech players were eliminated on the first day. After David Rosi and Jiri Brejcha were outclassed in the afternoon session, the more decorated Adam Gawlas and Karel Sedlacek also exited in the evening. This means the tournament will proceed without any Czech representation over the weekend.
- Adam Gawlas lost 2-6 to a consistently strong Krzysztof Ratajski. Gawlas managed an impressive 116-checkout but couldn’t keep pace with the ‘Polish Eagle’, who advanced comfortably.
- Karel Sedlacek put up a good fight against Damon Heta but ultimately lost 4-6. Sedlacek quickly equalized Heta’s 2-0 lead, and the match went to a crucial 4-4. Heta then checked out 78 in two darts to make it 5-4 and sealed the final leg with an 11-darter after six perfect darts.
Other Notable First Round Results
Several other players secured their spots in the second round:
- Luke Woodhouse was in excellent form, achieving a 104-average in his 6-4 victory over Connor Scutt. Both players hit 11-darters, with Scutt also hitting a 126-finish and a 111-checkout. Woodhouse closed the match with two 17-darters.
- Jeffrey De Graaf, representing Sweden, booked his ticket for the second round with a 6-3 win against a solid Niels Zonneveld. De Graaf pulled away in the mid-match with legs in 14, 12, and 19 darts, despite Zonneveld hitting a 12-darter earlier.
Looking Ahead: Saturday’s Second Round Matches
As is customary for the European Tour, the 16 seeded players will enter the tournament on the second day of the Czech Darts Open 2024. Saturday will feature two sessions.
Afternoon Session (Starts 1:00 PM CEST)
- Jermaine Wattimena (16) vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
- Ryan Searle (10) vs. William O’Connor
- Danny Noppert (9) vs. Kevin Doets
- Gary Anderson (11) vs. Cameron Menzies
- Wessel Nijman (13) vs. Martin Schindler
- Chris Dobey (12) vs. Keane Barry
- Ross Smith (14) vs. Stephen Burton
- Nathan Aspinall (15) vs. Andrew Gilding
Evening Session (Starts 7:00 PM CEST)
- Gian van Veen (3) vs. Jeffrey De Graaf
- Jonny Clayton (5) vs. Damon Heta
- Gerwyn Price (6) vs. Callan Rydz
- Luke Littler (1) vs. Niko Springer
- Luke Humphries (2) vs. Beau Greaves
- Michael van Gerwen (4) vs. Mario Vandenbogaerde
- Josh Rock (7) vs. Ryan Joyce
- Stephen Bunting (8) vs. Luke Woodhouse
Prize Money Breakdown
A total of £230,000 is up for grabs at the tournament, with the winner taking home £35,000. It’s important to note that for the 32 pre-qualified players from the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit, their prize money only counts towards the rankings if they win their opening match. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to the main PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, or Pro Tour Order of Merit.
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-finals: £10,000
- Quarter-finals: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32 (2nd Round Losers): £3,500
- Last 64 (1st Round Losers): £2,000
Tournament Details
Fans can follow all the action live through official broadcast partners. Check local listings for streaming options in your region.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
