Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy and World No. 2, faced a stunning upset in the third round of the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open in Prague, losing 6-5 to Gian van Veen in a last-leg decider. The defeat, reported by *PDC.tv*, marked Littler’s first loss in 14 matches across all competitions, ending his hopes of securing back-to-back European Tour titles after his Flanders Darts Trophy win the previous week. Despite a strong start, leading 3-0 with a 98.92 average against Cameron Menzies in the second round, Littler struggled against van Veen’s relentless scoring, with the Dutchman averaging 102.35 and hitting a crucial 121 checkout to seal the victory (*OfficialPDC* on X).
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Luke Humphries progressed to the quarter-finals with a commanding 6-3 win over Martin Schindler, becoming the first player to advance on Sunday afternoon (*OfficialPDC* on X). Humphries, the defending champion, showcased his form with a 104.67 average and a 170 checkout, setting up a clash with Damon Heta for a semi-final spot (*DartsNews.com*). His performance comes after a challenging period, including a shock World Cup of Darts loss alongside Littler in June 2025, which prompted both to skip subsequent Players Championship events (*gbnews.com*).
Littler’s defeat, despite his recent triumphs in the World Matchplay, Australian Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters, and Flanders Darts Trophy, highlights the pressure of his meteoric rise. The loss followed a tumultuous arrival in Prague, where he was grabbed by a fan outside his hotel, prompting a furious Instagram statement: “DO NOT GRAB ME FROM BEHIND… that’s bad behaviour” (*Sky Sports*). Littler’s focus now shifts to the World Series Finals in Amsterdam (September 12-14), where he is the defending champion.
The Czech Darts Open final, scheduled for Sunday night, September 7, 2025, at the PVA Expo Arena, will not feature Littler, but Humphries remains a favorite to claim the £30,000 prize. Other quarter-finalists include Michael van Gerwen, who averaged 112 against Daryl Gurney, and Gerwyn Price, per *DartsNews.com*. Fans on X expressed disappointment over Littler’s exit, with @DartsUpdates noting, “Shock for the Nuke, but he’ll bounce back.” Humphries, trailing Littler by £249,750 in the PDC Order of Merit, aims to solidify his No. 1 ranking before the World Grand Prix.
