Luke Littler won the 2026 Czech Darts Open by beating Luke Humphries 8-6 on Sunday evening in Prague. The result was significant for two reasons: Littler was returning to the European Tour after several months’ absence, whilst Humphries was aiming for a third consecutive title in the Czech capital.
Above all, the final brought the Littler-Humphries rivalry back into the spotlight. According to the PDC’s official report, Littler held his nerve following a late surge from Humphries, before closing out the match with a double 10. Sky Sports also confirmed the key detail: the winner pockets £35,000 and secures his place at the European Championship in Dortmund.
A final decided by the doubles
The final score tells the story of a closely fought match, but the turning point was quite clear. Humphries initially took the lead after winning three legs in a row, including finishes of 110, 88 and 92. Littler didn’t panic. He fought back just as Humphries seemed to be finding his rhythm, then struck back with two legs in 12 darts.
The standout moment came in the ninth leg: a 130 checkout on the bullseye. From there, Littler took the lead and extended it to 7-4. Humphries fought back to 7-6 and had two darts to force a deciding leg. He missed them. Littler, for his part, didn’t let the opportunity slip away and finished on his double 10.
It wasn’t a statistically perfect performance. Sky recorded an average of just over 95 for Littler on what was a gruelling and long day. But that is precisely what makes this victory so significant: he didn’t just go through the motions; he won a match that could easily have slipped from his grasp.
Littler’s run in Prague
Littler wasn’t back just to get back into the swing of things. His draw for the weekend lends real substance to the title, with several very different opponents to contend with before the final.
| Round | Key match |
|---|---|
| Second round | Victory over Niko Springer, with an average of nearly 109 according to the PDC |
| Round of 16 | 6-3 win against Krzysztof Ratajski |
| Quarter-final | Clear victory over Danny Noppert |
| Semi-final | 7-3 against Michael van Gerwen, with an average of 106.64 |
| Final | 8-6 against Luke Humphries |
The semi-final against Van Gerwen had already sent out a clear signal. In the final draw of the Czech Darts Open in Prague, Littler still had everything to prove over the course of Sunday. He did so without shying away from the big names.
Humphries stopped, but not really weakened
For Humphries, the defeat brings to an end a run that could have gone down in the tournament’s history as a major achievement. He was aiming for a third consecutive title in Prague and had a strong track record at this event. His defeat in the final isn’t a cause for alarm, but it serves as a simple reminder: against Littler, even the slightest slip-up on the doubles can cost you the title.
His performance on Sunday was still solid. The PDC points out that he had knocked out Gerwyn Price, William O’Connor and Andrew Gilding before the final. He also explained that he had considered withdrawing from the tournament due to an injury earlier in the week. In this context, reaching the title match remains a genuine achievement.
The Werner Rankings also moved after Prague
The update published by the PDC on Monday adds another layer to the weekend: Michael van Gerwen climbed to sixth on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder after reaching the semi-finals in Prague. It was not the trophy, but it was still a clear marker for a player who had slipped lower than usual in the world hierarchy.
Van Gerwen beat Mario Vandenbogaerde, Wessel Nijman and Jonny Clayton before losing to Littler in the semi-finals. His £10,000 payday moved him back above James Wade. There is still an important caveat: the Dutchman will defend £200,000 at Alexandra Palace in December after reaching the 2024/25 World Championship final.
| Player | Impact after Prague |
|---|---|
| Michael van Gerwen | Climbed to sixth after reaching the semi-finals |
| Ross Smith | Moved up to 14th after his quarter-final run |
| Wessel Nijman | Rose to 12th, with £292,000 earned in 2026 according to the PDC |
| Stephen Bunting | Dropped to 10th after losing his opener to Luke Woodhouse |
That is why Prague was more than just another Littler-Humphries meeting. The tournament also shifted several ranking lines before the Flanders Darts Trophy, the final major filter before the World Grand Prix field is confirmed. At this stage of the autumn, every cheque quickly changes the picture.
What this victory means for the future
The most important thing is not just the trophy. Littler has secured his sixth title on the European Tour and, according to the PDC, his place at the European Championship in Dortmund. He also hinted that he might not compete in any further regular European events this season, now that his place in Dortmund is secured.
Put another way: Prague could count as a title, but also as a way of managing his schedule. Littler has regained his form at just the right moment, just before the World Series leg in Amsterdam and then the World Grand Prix. Humphries, for his part, continues to be a consistent finalist, but he has just lost a symbolic head-to-head against the world number one.
So the rivalry is far from over. When Littler and Humphries meet in the final, it’s never just a routine contest. This time, the advantage lies with Littler, and he comes into the match with yet another trophy in an already very busy season.
