Humphries Hunts Hat-Trick in Prague
The PDC European Tour returns this weekend with the Czech Darts Open in Prague, the twelfth of fifteen such events on the 2026 calendar. A field of 48 players will compete from 4-6 September for a total prize fund of £230,000, with £35,000 reserved for the winner.
All eyes will be on Luke Humphries, who has dominated this event in recent years. Having won three of the last four editions, he arrives looking for a third consecutive title in the Czech capital. His main rival, Luke Littler, makes a much-anticipated return to the European Tour after an absence of several months, setting up a potential clash between the world’s top two.
The field is stacked with talent, including Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, and Gary Anderson, who continues his European Tour appearances after a recent run in Budapest. Ross Smith, the winner in Hungary, is also in the draw. With such a strong line-up, Humphries’ status as the man to beat is reflected in the best odds from bookmakers. The field saw a late change as James Wade withdrew from his second successive European Tour event, with Ricky Evans receiving a call-up as his replacement.
Littler’s £501,000 Netflix Challenge Analysed
Away from the tournament stage, details have emerged about the statistical challenge facing Luke Littler in his upcoming Netflix special. Richard Osman, who will serve as an expert analyst for the live broadcast, has broken down the numbers behind the ‘Beat Luke Littler’ concept.
The format will see twenty amateur players each play a single leg of 501 against the world number one, with a jackpot of £501,000 on offer to anyone who can defeat him. Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Entertainment’ podcast, Osman explained that while Littler will be a heavy favourite in any individual leg, the cumulative risk of having to win 20 consecutive high-pressure legs is substantial. He calculates that there is an 85 per cent chance that someone will win the grand prize over the course of the evening.
Players Past and Present Share Views
Elsewhere, Simon Whitlock and his son Mason have been discussing some of the sport’s most prominent subjects. In a conversation for the MODUS Super Series, the two disagreed on the PDC’s ranking system. The younger Whitlock questioned the prize money-based model, but his father, a former BDO world finalist, defended the system that has been in place for the past two decades.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton has revealed an unusual inspiration for her new signature darts. The former 400m runner explained that the design for her Winmau arrows was based on the Nike running shoes worn by legendary marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge.
In Brief
- Dutch analyst Jerry Hendriks has reflected on the emotional weight of his 2025 Euro Tour appearance in Rosmalen, revealing he played his match against Raymond van Barneveld having promised his late mother he would take to the stage.
- Former world number one Colin Lloyd believes Luke Littler already ranks third among the all-time greats and is tipping several other teenagers to make their mark on the professional circuit soon.
- Jelle Klaasen has joined Mach Darts but stated he would likely not accept a PDC Tour Card if he won one, effectively ruling out a return to the top level for the time being.
