Littler gets off to strong start at Czech Open as Van Gerwen impresses

13 hours ago 1

Luke Littler got his Czech Open campaign off to a flying start with a confident 6-2 win over Cameron Menzies in Prague.

The world champion headlined Saturday's late session at the PVA Expo, soon building a 3-0 lead having broken Menzies' throw in the second leg.

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.

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World No 1 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 No 4 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.

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Luke Littler edged past Beau Greaves at the Players Championship after a thrilling last-leg decider

Second Round results:

Ross Smith 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Martin Schindler 6-3 Madars Razma
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Damon Heta
Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Chris Dobey
Gian van Veen 6-2 Danny Noppert
Ryan Searle 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright 6-2 Benjamin Pratnemer
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Rob Cross 6-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Niko Springer
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Kevin Doets
James Wade 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Humphries 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Littler 6-2 Cameron Menzies
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Mike De Decker
Josh Rock 6-2 William O'Connor

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