The long and winding road that is the PDC’s European tour is fast approaching its end for the 2025 season. With only four events to go the importance of a good run for various qualifications, or retention of Pro Tour privileges, is mounting steadily.
World No. 1 Luke Humphries rolls into Prague as defending champion, having taken poor Kim Huybrechts apart in last year’s final like an Ikea wardrobe without the manual. Cool Hand seems to have a thing for Czechia – he’s already won here twice in the four tournaments held there making him as fond of the place as Littler appears to be of Belgium.
The history books remind us that Jamie Hughes won the inaugural event in 2019, while Peter Wright briefly sneaked his way into the honours list between Humphries’ victories. As ever, the first round serves up a few tasty scraps for the lower-ranked hopefuls, before Saturday rolls around and the big boys swagger onto the stage.
Luke Humphries himself starts the defence of his crown against either Dirk van Duijvenbode or Cor Dekker. No easy openers here then!
As this tournament is not being staged in Germany, Luke Littler also joins the party, and he’ll meet the winner of Cameron Menzies v Ian White.
Michael van Gerwen – the former Green Machine – waits for either Mike De Decker or Ritchie Edhouse which means, no matter what happens, he’s destined to face a reigning major champion. James Wade could well meet Nathan Aspinall in round two, because why not? Two household names clashing ridiculously early is becoming common place on the continent. Of course, assuming The Asp gets past a home nation qualifier – the sort of banana skin you really want to avoid.
Gerwyn Price is back too, hand no longer the size of a rugby ball, and he’ll take on Joe Cullen or Niko Springer. His World Cup partner, Jonny Clayton, might meet Ryan Joyce – time will tell if the Tetris lover can get past his local qualifier. Stephen Bunting, who’s been hoarding trophies this year like they’re supermarket loyalty points, has a tricky task ahead. If the lovable Liverpudlian wants another piece of silverware this weekend, his first assignment will be to get past Daryl Gurney or Kevin Doets.
Finally, Northern Ireland star, Josh Rock rounds off Saturday night against either Luke Woodhouse or Willie O’Connor. So there we are: another weekend of tungsten mayhem, a few inevitable upsets. Go on, Czech it out. Apologies for that pun.
2025 Gambrinus Czech Darts Open
PVA Expo, September 5-7
Tournament Draw Bracket – Second Round Onwards
(1) Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Cor Dekker
(16) Martin Schindler v Madars Razma/Host Nation Qualifier 2
(8) Rob Cross v Raymond van Barneveld/Krzysztof Ratajski
(9) Damon Heta v Wessel Nijman/Richard Veenstra
(4) Stephen Bunting v Daryl Gurney/Kevin Doets
(13) Peter Wright v Ricardo Pietreczko/Benjamin Pratnemer
(5) James Wade v Nathan Aspinall/Host Nation Qualifier 4
(12) Ross Smith v Andrew Gilding/Darius Labanauskas
(2) Luke Littler v Cameron Menzies/Ian White
(15) Danny Noppert v Gian van Veen/Maik Kuivenhoven
(7) Gerwyn Price v Joe Cullen/Niko Springer
(10) Jonny Clayton v Ryan Joyce/Host Nation Qualifier 3
(3) Michael van Gerwen v Mike De Decker/Ritchie Edhouse
(14) Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse/William O’Connor
(6) Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena/Brendan Dolan
(11) Dave Chisnall v Ryan Searle/Host Nation Qualifier 1
Schedule of Play
Friday September 5
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Ricardo Pietreczko v Benjamin Pratnemer
Madars Razma v Host Nation Qualifier 2
Andrew Gilding v Darius Labanauskas
Cameron Menzies v Ian White
Jermaine Wattimena v Brendan Dolan
Ryan Joyce v Host Nation Qualifier 3
Luke Woodhouse v William O’Connor
Wessel Nijman v Richard Veenstra
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Cor Dekker
Ryan Searle v Host Nation Qualifier 1
Daryl Gurney v Kevin Doets
Gian van Veen v Maik Kuivenhoven
Raymond van Barneveld v Krzysztof Ratajski
Nathan Aspinall v Host Nation Qualifier 4
Mike De Decker v Ritchie Edhouse
Joe Cullen v Niko Springer
Saturday September 6`
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Ross Smith v Gilding/Labanauskas
Martin Schindler v Razma/HNQ2
Damon Heta v Nijman/Veenstra
Chris Dobey v Wattimena/Dolan
Danny Noppert v Van Veen/Kuivenhoven
Dave Chisnall v Searle/HNQ1
Peter Wright v Pietreczko/Pratnemer
Jonny Clayton v Joyce/HNQ3
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Rob Cross v Van Barneveld/Ratajski
Gerwyn Price v Cullen/Springer
Stephen Bunting v Gurney/Doets
James Wade v Aspinall/HNQ4
Luke Humphries v Van Duijvenbode/Dekker
Luke Littler v Menzies/White
Michael van Gerwen v De Decker/Edhouse
Josh Rock v Woodhouse/O’Connor
Sunday September 7
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order
NB: From the original entries, Gary Anderson has withdrawn from the event and has been replaced by Madars Razma from the Reserve List, with Martin Schindler moving into the seeded positions.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
