Luke Littler overcame a testing build-up to get his Czech Open campaign off to a flying start with a confident 6-2 win over Cameron Menzies in Prague.
On Friday evening, Littler had taken to social media to hit out at “bad behaviour” from a fan who grabbed him when he was posing for pictures after a late-night arrival at his hotel.
The world champion, though, showed little signs of being put off his game when he headlined Saturday’s late session at the PVA Expo, soon building a 3-0 lead having broken Menzies’ throw in the second leg.
LITTLER SAFELY THROUGH! ☢️
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 6, 2025
Luke Littler kicks off his bid for back-to-back European Tour titles with a thumping 6-2 win over Cameron Menzies, averaging just shy of 99 in the process!
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8#ET11 pic.twitter.com/Rd8yMLFlWu
Littler’s pace dropped after Menzies had got on the board with a hold, but another clinical break in the eighth leg swiftly wrapped up victory as the 18-year-old looks to land back-to-back European Tour titles following his Flanders Darts Trophy success last week.
World number one Luke Humphries began his Czech Open title defence with a scrappy 6-4 win over Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode as both men struggled on doubles.
Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen whitewashed Mike De Decker 6-0 to charge into Finals Day with a stunning 112.73 match average and a top finish of 154.
James Wade landed five maximums and hit 75 per cent on checkouts as he beat Nathan Aspinall 6-3.
Rob Cross, winner at Alexandra Palace in 2018, had opened the evening session with an impressive 6-1 win over Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski.
Welshman Gerwyn Price, another of the former world champions in action, coasted past Germany’s Niko Springer 6-2.
World number four Steven Bunting beat Kevin Doets 6-4 to also reach the last 16 and Saturday’s late match saw Josh Rock come through 6-2 against William O’Connor.
In the afternoon session, Dutchman Wessel Nijman had edged out ninth seed Damon Heta in a last-leg decider.
Two-time world champion Peter Wright was a 6-2 winner over Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer, while Ryan Searle averaged 102.55 in his 6-4 defeat of Dave Chisnall.
There were also second-round wins for Jonny Clayton, Ross Smith, Jermaine Wattimena, Martin Schindler and Dutchman Gian van Veen, who will next face Littler.
Luke Littler through in Flanders with no teething trouble
Luke Littler’s Flanders Open build-up disrupted by emergency tooth removal
Luke Littler falls at last-16 stage as Jeffrey de Graaf wins maiden PDC title
Luke Littler edges past Beau Greaves in deciding leg at Players Championship 24
Adam Idah rescues last-gasp point for Ireland against 10-man Hungary
Sabalenka v Anisimova live: US Open latest score and updates from women’s final
