World Champion Luke Littler delivered a mesmeric exhibition on his Poland Darts Open opening showing, dismantling Mike De Decker with a display that has already become disconcertingly routine for the teenage phenomenon. The Nuke may not yet be operating at maximum combustion in Premier League combat, yet there was not the faintest trace of inertia in Krakow. He concluded with a gargantuan 113.84 average and an immaculate ledger on the outer ring – a performance bordering on the operatic.
De Decker, Belgium’s number one, was hardly culpable. His scoring was respectable, his composure intact. The complication was opportunity – or rather the scarcity of it. When afforded only two darts at double across an entire contest, the margin for survival is microscopic. Ross Smith now steps into Littler’s trajectory, the pair primed for a Sunday afternoon collision of considerable intrigue.
Josh Rock, reigning World Cup champion – or at least fifty percent of the arrangement – inaugurated Saturday evening’s proceedings and secured his berth in the final day with a polished victory over William O’Connor. The Antrim ace may be navigating turbulence in his maiden Premier League voyage, yet on the European Tour he transforms into something far more predatory. Last season yielded no title, yet it produced three semi-final excursions and two appearances in finals, a portfolio rich with promise. Against his fellow Emerald Isle exponent, Rock was imperious, compiling an average comfortably north of the ton.
Awaiting him is Spain’s Cristo Reyes, who appears to be luxuriating in his renaissance. The Spartan was ruthlessly efficient on the doubles as he subdued Ryan Searle with another arresting performance. For the Tenerife marksman, the rekindled appetite for PDC competition seems undiminished, perhaps even invigorated by absence.
Premier League pacesetter Jonny Clayton encountered stern resistance from Adam Gawlas, whose resurgence following a year in exile continues to gather substance. The Czech technician is methodical to the point of asceticism, yet devastatingly effective. At 4-4 the encounter hung delicately in equilibrium. Clayton, however, executed a pivotal break in the eleventh leg before administering the coup de grace to engineer a meeting with Michael Smith.
Smith may regard this opportunity as serendipitous, capitalising on Michael van Gerwen’s withdrawal to secure a Polish stage. The St Helens sharpshooter seized his moment, annexing the deciding leg in a pulsating duel with close ally Joe Cullen. It may be premature to trumpet a renaissance, yet successive Euro Tour qualifications in Wigan and a commendable showing against The Rockstar suggest the embers of resurgence are glowing. A fully invigorated Michael Smith enriches the entire sporting ecosystem.
In the wake of Littler’s virtuoso dismantling of De Decker came a fraternal skirmish between stablemates as Luke Woodhouse confronted Callan Rydz, the latter benefiting from Gerwyn Price’s late absence. After parity across eight legs, Woodhouse orchestrated a timely incursion on throw before clinically sealing proceedings. Another triple digit average underlined the Worcestershire man’s burgeoning assurance. Chris Dobey now awaits.
Then arrived the contest the EXPO Arena had been anticipating with palpable fervour. Krzysztof Ratajski, national talisman and standard bearer squared off with Luke Humphries. At 4-1 and subsequently 5-2, Cool Hand appeared to be cruising. Yet buoyed by a vociferous and partisan congregation, Ratajski galvanised himself. The deficit evaporated. The arena reverberated. Despite the Polish Eagle possessing both crowd and throw in the decider, Humphries demonstrated the composure synonymous with champions, navigating the denouement with icy precision to arrange a Sunday confrontation with Boris Krcmar.
Stephen Bunting, operating below his incandescent best, nevertheless exhibited enough resolve to quell Niels Zonneveld. Having conceded the opener, the Liverpudlian refused to relinquish proximity. At 4-3, the former Lakeside champion recognised the imperative: hold throw and conclude the matter. He executed accordingly. Jermaine Wattimena, The Machine Gun, now stands opposite – a stylistic juxtaposition that promises volatility.
Finally, Gian van Veen concluded an exhilarating Saturday with a stirring recovery against Andrew Gilding. Trailing 2-0, the Dutchman recalibrated, evaded match darts and ultimately edged a contest of conspicuous quality. Van Veen’s scoring power, accentuated by six maximums, marginally eclipsed Gilding’s clinical finishing. Yet in elite competition, the sole statistic of consequence is the identity of the player who dispatches the final dart. On this occasion it was the world number three, who now prepares for a combustible engagement with Nathan Aspinall on Sunday afternoon.
Round Two Results
Evening Session (6pm GMT)
Josh Rock 2-6 William O’Connor
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Adam Gawlas
Michael Smith 6-5 Joe Cullen
Luke Littler 6-1 Mike De Decker
Callan Rydz 4-6 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Humphries 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Niels Zonneveld
Gian van Veen 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Round Three Schedule
Afternoon Session (12pm GMT)
Luke Littler v Ross Smith
Cristo Reyes v Josh Rock
Luke Woodhouse v Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton v Michael Smith
Luke Humphries v Boris Krcmar
Stephen Bunting v Jermaine Wattimena
Gian van Veen v Nathan Aspinall
Wessel Nijman v Cameron Menzies
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC Europe
