Poland Darts Open 2026 Roundup | Luke Littler produces astonishing 113 average as Humphries survives Krakow scare

Luke Littler headlined a blockbuster Saturday night in Krakow with a staggering 113.84 average as the second round of the 2026 Poland Darts Open reached its conclusion.

It was a session packed with drama. Luke Humphries survived a hostile atmosphere to edge past Krzysztof Ratajski in a deciding leg, Michael Smith came through a high-class scrap with Joe Cullen, and Jonny Clayton and Josh Rock both booked their places in Sunday’s action.

Littler set the tone immediately with a confident hold of throw and never relented.

A clinical 68 checkout in leg one was followed by a composed 72 in leg three. He teased the crowd with five perfect darts in leg four before sealing a 12-dart break with an 86 finish. The maximums kept flowing, and a stunning 171 set-up shot left double 10, which he pinned first dart to move 5-1 ahead while maintaining his perfect doubling record.

By the time he closed out the 6-1 win, Littler had landed three 180s, averaged 113.84 and had 100 percent on his doubles to underline why he remains the man everyone must beat this weekend.

Luke Humphries was forced to dig deep.

Facing Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski and a raucous home crowd, Humphries survived a 6-5 thriller that ebbed and flowed throughout.

Humphries broke early and looked in control at 5-2, but Ratajski refused to fade. A 76 checkout ignited the arena before double 20 forced a deciding leg, sending the Krakow crowd into frenzy.

With referee Kirk Bevins stepping in to calm the whistling during Humphries’ throw, the world number two kept his composure. Despite Ratajski having the throw in the decider, Humphries had time to settle and pinned double four to seal victory, pointedly putting his fingers to his ears in celebration.

It was not vintage Humphries in terms of average, but it was big-match resilience.

Michael Smith survived a dramatic battle with Joe Cullen, sealing a 6-5 win with a nerveless two-dart 96 finish in the deciding leg.

Smith fired seven 180s and averaged 97.01, but was pushed all the way. Cullen led 5-4 before Smith responded with six perfect darts in leg 10 to force a decider. The nine-darter did not materialise, but the response proved decisive.

For Smith, who only entered the draw as a late replacement for the ill Gerwyn Price, it was a reminder of the quality he still possesses in this format.

Fresh from his Premier League Night Three triumph, Jonny Clayton kept the wins coming with a 6-4 success over Adam Gawlas.

The Welshman was not at his Glasgow peak, averaging 95.72, but proved clinical when it mattered. An 85 finish sealed the deal after Gawlas missed tops for a crucial 100 checkout that could have shifted the contest.

Josh Rock was far more emphatic.

The Northern Irishman dismantled William O’Connor 6-1 with a 102.98 average and wrapped up the victory with a brilliant 108 checkout. Rock struck four 180s and never allowed O’Connor to settle after an early 138 finish from the Irishman had threatened a contest.

Luke Woodhouse produced one of the comebacks of the session, overturning a 4-1 deficit to defeat Callan Rydz 6-4.

A sensational 170 checkout shifted momentum before a 174 set-up and 118 finish capped a composed turnaround.

Stephen Bunting, meanwhile, endured a scrappy affair against Niels Zonneveld. Despite being outscored in the 180 column, Bunting capitalised on Zonneveld’s struggles on the doubles to claim a 6-4 victory and book his place in Sunday’s action.

Gian van Veen closed the session with a nervy 6-5 victory over Andrew Gilding to seal his place in the last 16.

Gilding, who had averaged 106 in the opening round, made a blistering start and raced into a 2-0 lead, breaking throw in the opener. The Englishman also produced a brilliant 130 bull finish to move 4-3 ahead in a high-quality contest.

Van Veen responded with heavy scoring, firing six 180s across the match, and edged in front at 5-4 after surviving double trouble on D6. Gilding forced a deciding leg by calmly cleaning up 41 on D20 after trading maximums, but the Dutchman had the advantage of throw in the shootout.

Three match darts came and went for Van Veen before Gilding missed his opportunity to steal it. Given a reprieve, the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship runner-up returned to close out the win and set up a last 16 meeting with Nathan Aspinall.