The 2025 PDC European Tour is approaching its home stretch, and with just four events left, it’s once again the turn of the Czech Republic to play the ever-obliging host. Yes, Prague – where beer is nearly as cheap as water and the darts always worth watching.
World No. 1 Luke Humphries rolls into town 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.
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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. As this tournament is not being stage in Germany, Luke Littler also joins the party, and he’ll meet the winner of Cameron Menzies v Ian White.
RECORDS BROKEN, CHAMP CROWNED IN PRAGUE: 2024 Gambrinus Czech Darts Open Highlights
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
First Round – Friday 5 September
Afternoon Session (13:00 local / 12:00 BST)
- Ricardo Pietreczko vs Benjamin Pratnemer
- Madars Razma vs Host Nation Qualifier 2
- Andrew Gilding vs Darius Labanauskas
- Cameron Menzies vs Ian White
- Jermaine Wattimena vs Brendan Dolan
- Ryan Joyce vs Host Nation Qualifier 3
- Luke Woodhouse vs William O’Connor
- Wessel Nijman vs Richard Veenstra
Evening Session (19:00 local / 18:00 BST)
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Cor Dekker
- Ryan Searle vs Host Nation Qualifier 1
- Daryl Gurney vs Kevin Doets
- Gian van Veen vs Maik Kuivenhoven
- Raymond van Barneveld vs Krzysztof Ratajski
- Nathan Aspinall vs Host Nation Qualifier 4
- Mike De Decker vs Ritchie Edhouse
- Joe Cullen vs Niko Springer
Second Round – Saturday, September 6
Afternoon Session (13:00 / 12:00 BST)
- (12) Ross Smith vs Gilding/Labanauskas
- (16) Martin Schindler vs Razma/HNQ2
- (9) Damon Heta vs Nijman/Veenstra
- (6) Chris Dobey vs Wattimena/Dolan
- (15) Danny Noppert vs Van Veen/Kuivenhoven
- (11) Dave Chisnall vs Searle/HNQ1
- (13) Peter Wright vs Pietreczko/Pratnemer
- (10) Jonny Clayton vs Joyce/HNQ3
Evening Session (19:00 / 18:00 BST)
- (8) Rob Cross vs Van Barneveld/Ratajski
- (7) Gerwyn Price vs Cullen/Springer
- (4) Stephen Bunting vs Gurney/Doets
- (5) James Wade vs Aspinall/HNQ4
- (1) Luke Humphries vs Van Duijvenbode/Dekker
- (2) Luke Littler vs Menzies/White
- (3) Michael van Gerwen vs De Decker/Edhouse
- (14) Josh Rock vs Woodhouse/O’Connor
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