Czech Darts Open Saturday evening Round-up | Luke Littler and Luke Humphries standout with 108 averages as Beau Greaves magical campaign abruptly halted

The evening session of the Czech Darts Open on Saturday featured a very stacked lineup consisting of Premier League talent. Most notably Luke Littler and Luke Humphries who set Prague alight in a phenomenal night of darts.

The world number one had not featured on the European Tour since March and was on a stage for the first time since the World Matchplay. He averaged 108.58 in a thrilling 6-4 win against a stubborn Niko Springer.

Littler would not have it all his way in the early stages. Two double 18’s was utilised for a statement 128 checkout before the German missed the bull for a 161. The holds continued until the sixth leg where Springer blinked on double four. ‘The Nuke’ pinned a favourable double 10 segment and soon was 5-2 ahead with 170 for the match. That did not go and Springer went back-to-back 14 darters to close the gap to 5-4. Nevertheless, Littler was not fazed and completed the job a leg later to mark his European Tour return with another brilliant win.

Following this, an absolute classic occurred between Humphries and Beau Greaves. After becoming the first women to ever win a match on the European Tour, ‘Beau ‘n’ Arrow’ could not find the fire power to deal with the three-time champion who topped Littler’s average with a 108.98 display to win 6-2.

Greaves admitted nerves were rife in her brilliant breakthrough win against Daryl Gurney, but a 14-dart hold was the perfect start. However, Humphries clapped back instantly with some excellent darts. A three-leg burst saw him stamp his authority on this darts match. A creative 96 outshot limited the damage but ‘Cool Hand Luke’ was rampant. The scoring power had limited Greaves to a brace of double attempts in the whole match, and the former world champion was on course for a new personal best European Tour average. A number of missed match darts prevented that possibility, but he was able to swerve the Greaves hype and reminded everyone about his calibre on the oche with more glory in Prague on the cards.

Gian van Veen and Jeffrey de Graaf played for a fourth time. Incredibly, van Veen made it a fourth consecutive 6-1 win over his Swedish rival while averaging just under 101. De Graaf had two early shots at double 16, but both were missed and van Veen took an early advantage. This would be the trend of the match with tops being van Veen’s friend in the early stages. De Graaf got on the board, but overall missed chances were repeatedly capitalised. Double eight was found the second time of asking as ‘The Giant’ broke once more before seeing out the match in that synonymous scoreline between the two.

He was not the only Dutchman involved. This is one of the only European Tour events that Michael van Gerwen has never won, and his title hopes in 2026 almost shattered in a mediocre 6-4 win against Mario Vandenbogaerde.

It was van Gerwen who was on top from the start, and an 11-darter featuring a 909 checkout broke the Belgian’s throw. That advantage instantly fell as ‘The Green Machine’ ended up busting in the madhouse. A 14-dart leg got van Gerwen his lead back at 4-3 but 80 went in two for Vandenbogaerde who missed numerous chances for a fifth leg. Van Gerwen made him pay as he stumbled over the finishing line. Not a classic MVG showing but he progresses, nevertheless.

Jonny Clayton had a tough task in the form of Damon Heta, but had no problem in disposing of his talented opponent 6-2 with some great finishing mixed in. After three holds, Clayton struck first with a marvellous 156 checkout. Still without a PDC ranking title this year, the Welshman will be hoping to break that trend in Prague. Heta’s second attempt at a double came on a favourable double 16, but that was missed as Clayton edged within one of the win. Heta doubled his leg tally, but it was all in vain with a showstopping 124 checkout on double 14 secured the Welshman a great win.

Following in suit, the Welsh number one Gerwyn Price had no issue in seeing off an underwhelming Callan Rydz 6-2. Despite averaging around 20 points less throughout much of tie, Rydz still did enough to hold throw and keep tabs with ‘The Iceman.’ However, from 2-2 Price stamped his authority. The first roar from the Welsh number one came after securing the first break to go 4-2 to the good. Rydz could not muster anything up as the former world champion flexed his muscles on stage, averaging almost 104 in the process.

Last year’s finalist Josh Rock was in stunning form this time last year. While not currently at his best, he showed glimmers in a 6-3 win against Ryan Joyce.An 81 checkout in two was an emphatic sign as he broke enroute to a 2-0 leg. Joyce was off the pace in what was another rapid match of darts. ‘Relentless’ finally had a chance in the fourth leg but doubles missed in his favourite part of the board allowed the Northern Irishman to secure a double break. Rock went off the boil in the next two legs as the deficit was halved, but Joyce simply did not have enough to muster a comeback of any sorts. Rock threw for the match and took out 225 in five darts for a flashy ending.

All the pressure was on Stephen Bunting to make it a clean sweep for the Premier League players. Despite averaging over 103, he could not prevail with a brilliant Luke Woodhouse breaking the trend with a 6-4 victory. The 2019 finalist began with some huge scoring, but it was the third Luke in action tonight who broke first to lead 2-1. Both players were comfortably averaging over the 104 mark as Bunting broke back. Woodhouse missed the bull three times, twice for a 170, and both times he cleaned up two. The second time was for another break as ‘Woody’ led 4-3 before a scintillating 160 checkout put him on the cusp. Bunting forced him to throw it out, and he accepted this task. 82 went in two darts on double 16 was a classy way to end the night with a 105.3 average an ominous statement by Woodhouse.