The 2025 Gambrinus Czech Darts Open kicked off with a bang at Prague’s PVA Expo, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of darts from September 5 to 7. The eleventh stop on the PDC European Tour delivered electrifying performances on its opening night, with Nathan Aspinall stealing the spotlight through a commanding 6-0 whitewash over local qualifier Jiri Brejcha. Meanwhile, the darts world buzzed with anticipation as Luke Littler, the teenage sensation and world champion, learned his second-round opponent for Saturday’s action: Cameron Menzies, who secured a 6-3 victory over Ian White with an impressive 100.91 average.
Aspinall, known as ‘The Asp,’ returned to the European Tour with a vengeance after missing the previous weekend’s Flanders Darts Trophy. His performance against Brejcha was nothing short of ruthless, highlighted by a sublime 152 checkout in the fourth leg that left the Prague crowd in awe. Despite the home support for Brejcha, Aspinall’s precision and focus were unrelenting, averaging 85.89 to secure a second-round clash with world No. 5 James Wade. “It felt good to be back up here after not playing for a while,” Aspinall reflected, his confidence palpable after a hiatus since July’s World Matchplay. With two Euro Tour titles already under his belt this season, Aspinall’s dominant display signaled his intent to reclaim a top spot in the world rankings, having slipped outside the top 20.
The opening night wasn’t just about Aspinall’s heroics. Dirk van Duijvenbode also turned heads, overpowering Norway’s Cor Dekker 6-4 to advance. His performance set up a high-stakes second-round matchup against defending champion Luke Humphries, who is aiming to repeat his 2024 triumph when he crushed Kim Huybrechts 8-1 in the final. Humphries, the world No. 1, will enter Saturday’s fray fresh off a stellar year, having also claimed the title in 2022 with an 8-5 win over Rob Cross. The Dutchman’s recent form, however, suggests he won’t make it easy for the reigning champion.
For Littler, the focus now shifts to his Saturday showdown with Menzies, a Scottish thrower who expressed both excitement and reverence for the challenge ahead. “I’m buzzing to play, in my opinion, the best darts player in the world,” Menzies said, acknowledging Littler’s meteoric rise. “I’m a massive fan of Luke Humphries, but I feel Littler right now is the man.” Littler, fresh off a Euro Tour title in Belgium last weekend, is no stranger to high-pressure matches. His 2024 Czech Darts Open campaign saw him demolish Aspinall 6-1 with a tournament-record average of 110.43, a performance that had Aspinall playfully tossing his darts to the floor in mock surrender. This year, Littler’s second-round matchup promises another chance to showcase his prodigious talent as he chases a third Euro Tour title in his debut professional season.
The opening round wasn’t without its surprises. Daryl Gurney, riding high from a semi-final run in Flanders, suffered a shock 6-4 defeat to Kevin Doets, halting his momentum. Elsewhere, Krzysztof Ratajski delivered a 6-1 thrashing of Raymond van Barneveld, while Ryan Searle cruised past Filip Manak 6-2, setting up a tantalizing second-round clash with Dave Chisnall. The first round also saw standout performances from the likes of Wessel Nijman, who edged Richard Veenstra 6-5, and Niko Springer, who clinched a last-leg decider against Joe Cullen.
With £175,000 in prize money on the line, including £30,000 for the winner, the stakes are high in Prague. The tournament’s format, which sees the top 16 PDC Order of Merit players seeded into the second round, ensures fierce competition from the outset. Littler, seeded second, and Humphries, the top seed, are among the favorites, but Aspinall’s opening-night masterclass and Menzies’ upset potential hint at a weekend full of drama. As the Czech Darts Open unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Littler can continue his record-breaking form or if veterans like Aspinall and Humphries will steal the show in this electrifying European Tour showdown.
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