LITTLER CREATES AVERAGE RECORD AT GAMBRINUS CZECH DARTS OPEN AS STARS SHINE IN PRAGUE
Luke Littler produced a tournament record average at the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open on Saturday night, as Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Martin Schindler and new star Mike De Decker also shone in Prague.
Premier League champion Littler has already won two European Tour titles during his debut season as a professional, and opened his bid for a third success in stunning fashion.
Having trialled using a new design of darts during the midweek Players Championship events, Littler returned in style to the set-up which he has used for much of an incredible year.
He was in blistering form to average 110.43 against Nathan Aspinall in a 6-1 win, producing a finishing masterclass with 91, 128, 88 and 124 combinations in a fine performance.
“I’m happy with that,” said Littler, who meets Damon Heta in the third round on Sunday afternoon.
“I know what I can throw with these darts and that’s why I didn’t play with the gold ones.
“There was load of talk about changing my darts so I’ve come here this weekend and made the decision to go back to what I know best, and they went well tonight.
“If I play like this again tomorrow I’ll be very happy.”
Heta had earlier booked his spot in the last 16 with a 6-3 defeat of Gabriel Clemens, averaging over 102 himself as he moved into a mouth-watering tie with Littler.
World Champion Humphries produced a key ten-darter and averaged over 100 as he raced past Ritchie Edhouse for the loss of just two legs.
“It was a decent performance but I know I can improve,” said Humphries, who is aiming for a second European Tour title of 2024.
“I feel like there’s another level in me – I’m not playing my best but I manage to be doing the right things at the right time. I want to be back to my fluent best.”
Humphries now meets Gian van Veen – who won through to the PDC Winmau World Youth Championship final on Monday and continued that form to defeat James Wade 6-2.
Van Gerwen – a 37-time European Tour winner – was another stand-out performer in Saturday’s second round as he overcame a resurgent Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4, averaging 104.56 and hitting five 180s alongside two 11-dart breaks of throw.
Mike De Decker’s superb run of form continued with a whitewash of Danny Noppert, as the new BoyleSports World Grand Prix champion stormed into Sunday’s Finals Day at PVA Expo in Prague.
De Decker was in ruthless mood as he averaged 102.48 and took out a 150 finish to defeat Noppert, who was restricted to just one dart at a double.
Martin Schindler, a two-time European Tour winner this year, came from a leg down to defeat Peter Wright 6-1 with a 103 average, finishing a key 144 and six doubles from seven attempts to set up a tie with De Decker.
Jermaine Wattimena was another whitewash winner on the second day of action in Prague, averaging 107.36 in an outstanding blitz of Chris Dobey, finishing 126 and 120 and hitting three 12-darters.
Wattimena now faces Raymond van Barneveld in an all-Dutch tie in the last 16, with the five-time World Champion having overcome Maik Kuivenhoven – a late replacement after Gerwyn Price withdrew due to a trapped nerve in his neck – by a 6-4 margin.
Home hopes in Prague will rest on Pavel Drtil on Sunday, after the Czech qualifier followed up his first round win over Joe Cullen by defeating Josh Rock 6-5.
Rock hit back from 3-0 and 4-1 down to take out 118 to force a deciding leg, but Drtil took out 78 to seal victory – ending the tie with a clinical six doubles from seven attempts.
The Host Nation Qualifier now meets Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts, who produced heroics in a deciding leg against Luke Woodhouse with a ten-darter to progress to Finals Day.
Michael Smith and Jonny Clayton will clash in another tasty third round tie after they progressed in style on Saturday.
Smith sealed his spot in the Machineseeker European Championship by averaging almost 108 in his 6-3 win over Ryan Searle, while Clayton saw off Masters champion Stephen Bunting by the same margin with another ton-topping average.
Alan Soutar edged out second seed Ross Smith 6-5 to move through to a clash with Van Gerwen, while Ricardo Pietreczko’s reward for an 11-leg defeat of Martin Lukeman is a clash with Niels Zonneveld, who saw off a below-par Dave Chisnall 6-2.
Finals Day begins with the third round on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a blockbuster evening session.
Following Sunday’s conclusion of the Czech Darts Open, the field for next weekend’s European Championship will be confirmed – with 30 players now safely qualified for the Dortmund event.
Nathan Aspinall and Dirk van Duijvenbode are the only players in the provisional top 32 of the European Tour Order of Merit in any danger, with Zonneveld, Soutar, Huybrechts and Drtil still harbouring hopes of forcing their way into the field.
Live coverage of the Czech Darts Open will be streamed through Viaplay, and through DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ worldwide.
Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ worldwide.
2024 Gambrinus Czech Darts Open
Saturday October 19
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Martin Lukeman
Damon Heta 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Jermaine Wattimena 6-0 Chris Dobey
Pavel Drtil 6-5 Josh Rock
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Luke Woodhouse
Alan Soutar 6-5 Ross Smith
Mike De Decker 6-0 Danny Noppert
Michael Smith 6-3 Ryan Searle
Evening Session
Gian van Veen 6-2 James Wade
Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Maik Kuivenhoven
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Littler 6-1 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Humphries 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Sunday October 20
Martin Schindler 6-1 Peter Wright
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Niels Zonneveld v Ricardo Pietreczko
Jonny Clayton v Michael Smith
Pavel Drtil v Kim Huybrechts
Raymond van Barneveld v Jermaine Wattimena
Alan Soutar v Michael van Gerwen
Damon Heta v Luke Littler
Luke Humphries v Gian van Veen
Mike De Decker v Martin Schindler
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC EUROPE
