Luke Humphries
Luke Humphries will open his defence of the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open against Dirk van Duijvenbode or Cor Dekker, as the PDC European Tour in Prague this weekend.
The event will see a 48-player field competing for the £30,000 top prize, as world number one Humphries bids to go back-to-back in the Czech capital.
Humphries ran out a comprehensive 8-1 winner against Kim Huybrechts to triumph in Prague 12 months ago, having also lifted the title back in 2022 following an 8-5 victory over Rob Cross.
The first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions, as three-time European Tour winner Joe Cullen goes head-to-head with Germany’s rising star Niko Springer.
World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker locks horns with current European Champion Ritchie Edhouse in a battle between two of last year’s TV title winners, while Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld takes on Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski.
World Youth Champion Gian van Veen will play his fellow countryman Maik Kuivenhoven for a place in round two, while Wessel Nijman and Richard Veenstra collide in another all-Dutch affair.
Cameron Menzies faces three-time European Tour event winner Ian White in his opener, with Flanders Darts Trophy semi-finalist Daryl Gurney pitted against Kevin Doets in an intriguing clash.
Elsewhere, Nathan Aspinall – a winner of two European Tour titles in 2025 – marks his return to big stage action with a meeting against Host Nation representative Jiri Brejcha, while Czech number one Karel Sedlacek returns to home soil against Ryan Joyce.
The top 16 players on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder will enter the tournament in Saturday’s second round, as reigning champion Humphries – returning to action following a family holiday – begins his campaign against Van Duijvenbode or Norwegian star Dekker.
World Champion Luke Littler, fresh from victory in Antwerp last weekend, begins his challenge for back-to-back European Tour titles against Menzies or White on Saturday evening.
Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen has been drawn against De Decker or Edhouse in round two, with fourth seed Bunting up against either Gurney or Doets for a place at Finals Day.
James Wade faces a potential showdown against Aspinall in a battle of the former World Matchplay champions, as Jermaine Wattimena and Brendan Dolan battle it out for the right to play sixth seed Chris Dobey.
Gerwyn Price awaits the winner of the tie between Cullen and Springer, while 2022 runner-up Cross faces a tough test against Van Barneveld or Ratajski.
Peter Wright memorably lifted the Czech Darts Open title in 2023, and the two-time World Champion will be targeting a return to winning ways when he kicks off his campaign against Ricardo Pietreczko or Benjamin Pratnemer.
Flanders Darts Trophy finalist Josh Rock aims to continue his good form when he takes on Luke Woodhouse or William O’Connor, while Danny Noppert is guaranteed Dutch opposition in the shape of his World Cup partner Van Veen or Kuivenhoven.
