Menzies ousts Anderson at the Czech Darts Open as Littler and Humphries surge into Last 16
Cameron Menzies inflicted an early exit on Gary Anderson at the Czech Darts Open on Saturday, as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries produced prolific displays in Prague.
Anderson was one of six seeded casualties on a dramatic Day Two at the PVA Expo as he crashed out at the hands of his Scottish World Cup partner.
It proved to be a bad day at the office for Anderson, who averaged just 84.6 and squandered ten darts at doubles in a 6-3 defeat less than a week after finishing runner-up at the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
Luke Littler, meanwhile, enjoyed an emphatic return to European Tour action as he saw off Niko Springer 6-4 with a blistering 108.5 average.
The world number one, who was making his first big stage appearance since retaining the World Matchplay title, raced into the final day of action as he defied four 180s and a 98.5 average from the German ace.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to a European Tour,” said Littler. “I’m smiling, it feels good to be back!”
“Full credit to Niko. I was 5-2 up and then suddenly it was 5-4 and he was right back in it.
“I’ve just produced a 108 average, but when I was practicing backstage, I couldn’t hit anything.
“Niko is a really quick player, with Krzysztof [Ratajski] tomorrow, I know how to manage his pace but he is very dangerous.”
Three-time Czech Darts Open champion Humphries opened his account with a 6-2 victory over history-maker Beau Greaves.
Greaves became the first woman ever to win on the European Tour stage on Friday, but Humphries ended her title hopes by averaging 109 with the aid of five maximums.
Greaves opened the contest with a 13-darter, before the world number two responded with legs of 12 and 14 of his own.
The three-time Women’s World Matchplay champion closed the gap to just one, but only for Humphries to reel off three consecutive legs to seal victory.
“I knew I had to play a lot better than last week,” explained Humphries, who suffered a shock second round defeat at the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
“48 hours ago I wasn’t sure whether I was going to play; I seem to play better when I have an injury!
“She’s an amazing player, she pushed me all the way, it was a couple of bits towards the end of the match that got me through in the end.
“She’s just a great dart player. If I had lost today, I wouldn’t have been disgraced, I would have lost to a really great dart player.”
Andrew Gilding will face off with Humphries on Sunday afternoon, after the former UK Open champion thrashed an out of sorts Nathan Aspinall 6-2.
The 55-year-old raced into a 5-0 lead over the former World Matchplay champion, sealing the victory with a brilliant 122 checkout.
“This place absolutely loves me, I don’t really know why that is, I get so much support, I just love being here,” reflected Gilding.
“Hopefully I can go into tomorrow, have a good showing and who knows what will happen after that!”
Polish stalwart Ratajski set up a showdown with Littler by comfortably overcoming Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 in the opening game of the day.
Meanwhile, Gian van Veen romped to a 6-1 victory over Jeffrey De Graaf – his fourth consecutive victory over the Swede by the same scoreline.
The world number three will lock horns with Ross Smith in the Last 16, after last week’s Hungarian Darts Trophy champion thrashed Stephen Burton 6-1 to kick-start his quest for back-to-back titles.
Welsh duo Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price advanced to the final day in Prague, brushing aside Damon Heta and Callan Rydz respectively.
Clayton produced checkouts of 156 and 124 on his way to a 6-2 victory over the Australian number one, while Price averaged upwards of 103 in his victory over Rydz by the same scoreline.
Keane Barry secured his place in the Last 16 for the second successive weekend following a 6-4 victory over a wasteful Chris Dobey.
Michael van Gerwen began his bid for a maiden Czech Darts Open title with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Belgian veteran Mario Vandenbogaerde.
Wessel Nijman defied a spectacular 170 checkout from Martin Schindler as he sealed a narrow deciding-leg win after the German had fatally missed the big number on a 78 finish to deny himself a match dart.
Josh Rock will do battle with William O’Connor in Round Three after the pair saw off Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle respectively.
Luke Woodhouse rounded off the evening session with a superb 6-4 success against Stephen Bunting, averaging 105 on his way to a 6-4 victory, and will take on a resurgent Danny Noppert following his 6-1 demolition of Kevin Doets earlier in the day.
Czech Darts Open 2026 Day Two Results
Saturday September 5
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Jermaine Wattimena 2-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Ryan Searle 4-6 William O’Connor
Danny Noppert 6-1 Kevin Doets
Gary Anderson 3-6 Cameron Menzies
Chris Dobey 4-6 Keane Barry
Ross Smith 6-1 Stephen Burton
Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Andrew Gilding
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Martin Schindler
Evening Session
Gian van Veen 6-1 Jeffrey De Graaf
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Damon Heta
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Callan Rydz
Luke Littler 6-4 Niko Springer
Luke Humphries 6-2 Beau Greaves
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Josh Rock 6-3 Ryan Joyce
Stephen Bunting 4-6 Luke Woodhouse
