Littler lights up Graz with superb Heta victory

European Tour

Luke Littler produced a blistering burst to storm through to the last 16 of the NEO.bet Austrian Darts Open on Saturday, as Jonny Clayton made a superb start to his title defence in Graz.

Inspired Schindler creates history on Day One in Graz

European Tour

Martin Schindler produced an imperious display to take centre stage on the opening day of the NEO.bet Austrian Darts Open on Friday.

2024 NEO.bet Austrian Darts Open draw & schedule

European Tour

Jonny Clayton will begin his defence of the NEO.bet Austrian Darts Open against Chris Dobey or Graham Hall on Saturday, with the draw and schedule for this weekend's event now confirmed.

Anderson hails 'good fortune' after Euro Tour success in Sindelfingen

European Tour

Gary Anderson claimed he’s ‘never been so lucky’ after ending his ten-year wait for a European Tour title in Sindelfingen on Sunday.

Anderson ends ten-year wait for European Tour title

European Tour

Gary Anderson ended his ten-year wait for a European Tour title in Sindelfingen on Sunday, defeating Ross Smith 8-6 in the final of the NEO.bet European Darts Grand Prix.

Humphries halts Littler streak on sensational day in Sindelfingen

European Tour

Luke Humphries returned to winning ways against Luke Littler on an extraordinary second day of action at the NEO.bet European Darts Grand Prix.

Spectacular Schindler steals the show on Day One in Sindelfingen

European Tour

Martin Schindler began his bid for back-to-back European Tour titles with a sensational first round display at the NEO.bet European Darts Grand Prix on Friday, as Luke Littler also impressed on Day One in Sindelfingen.

2024 NEO.bet European Darts Grand Prix draw & schedule

European Tour

Rob Cross will begin his defence of the NEO.bet European Darts Grand Prix against Martin Schindler or Gian van Veen, with Luke Humphries and Luke Littler poised to renew their rivalry in Sindelfingen.

Paul Nicholson: Examining the rise of Martin Schindler

Comment

From steward on the European Tour to European Tour champion. Sounds like a fantasy, but in modern day darts, it’s the place where dreams can actually come true.

Schindler crowned new German number one following Euro Tour success

News

Martin Schindler moved up to a career-high of world number 22 following his landmark victory at last weekend's NEO.bet International Darts Open.

THE PDC, in conjunction with PDC Europe, will stage a series of 13 European Tour events throughout 2019.

Each tournament is worth £140,000 in prize money, and features 48 players who qualify as follows, with all tournaments broadcast online to PDCTV-HD Subscribers and are also streamed through a series of bookmakers' websites.

2019 Czech Darts Open
Tournament Draw Bracket - Second Round Onwards

Michael van Gerwen (1) v Ondrej Plsek/Keegan Brown
Darren Webster (16) v Danny Noppert/Stefan Bellmont
Mensur Suljovic (8) v William Borland/John Henderson
Ricky Evans (9) v Krzysztof Ratajski/Ted Evetts
Peter Wright (5) v Stephen Bunting/Robert Thornton
Joe Cullen (12) v Chris Dobey/Sebastian Steyer
Daryl Gurney (4) v Vaclav Shieferdecker/William O'Connor
Jonny Clayton (13) v Jermaine Wattimena/Kevin Garcia
Ian White (2) v Karel Sedlacek/Brendan Dolan
Nathan Aspinall (15) v Andrew Gilding/Rowby-John Rodriguez
Adrian Lewis (7) v Jamie Hughes/Devon Petersen
Steve Beaton (10) v Ron Meulenkamp/Jan Hlavacek
James Wade (6) v Mervyn King/Steve West
Michael Smith (11) v Wessel Nijman/Corey Cadby
Gerwyn Price (3) v Glen Durrant/Daniel Larsson
Simon Whitlock (14) v Madars Razma/Justin Pipe

Schedule of Play
Friday June 28
First Round
Afternoon Session

Danny Noppert 6-2 Stefan Bellmont
Justin Pipe 6-4 Madars Razma
Jermaine Wattimena 6-0 Kevin Garcia
Karel Sedlacek 6-5 Brendan Dolan
Corey Cadby 6-0 Wessel Nijman
John Henderson 6-3 William Borland
Keegan Brown 6-0 Ondrej Plsek
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Rowby-John Rodriguez

Evening Session
Glen Durrant 6-1 Daniel Larsson
Mervyn King 6-5 Steve West
William O'Connor 6-0 Vaclav Shieferdecker
Ted Evetts 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Chris Dobey 6-2 Sebastian Steyer
Ron Meulenkamp 6-2 Jan Hlavacek
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Robert Thornton
Jamie Hughes 6-4 Devon Petersen

Saturday June 29
Second Round
Afternoon Session

Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Jonny Clayton
Danny Noppert 6-4 Darren Webster
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Justin Pipe
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Daryl Gurney 6-4 William O'Connor
Ian White 6-4 Karel Sedlacek
Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Steve Beaton
Mervyn King 6-2 James Wade

Evening Session
Ted Evetts 6-3 Ricky Evans
Chris Dobey 6-3 Joe Cullen
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Peter Wright
Keegan Brown 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Mensur Suljovic 6-0 John Henderson
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Glen Durrant
Jamie Hughes 6-0 Adrian Lewis
Corey Cadby 6-5 Michael Smith

Sunday June 30
Afternoon Session

Third Round
Keegan Brown 6-4 Danny Noppert
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Ted Evetts
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Chris Dobey
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Ian White 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Jamie Hughes 6-3 Ron Meulenkamp
Mervyn King 6-4 Corey Cadby
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Gerwyn Price

Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Keegan Brown 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Jamie Hughes 6-5 Ian White
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Mervyn King 

Semi-Finals
Stephen Bunting 7-4 Keegan Brown
Jamie Hughes 7-3 Simon Whitlock

Final
Jamie Hughes 8-3 Stephen Bunting

JAMIE HUGHES won his first senior PDC title at the inaugural Czech Darts Open in Prague on Sunday, securing a Betfred World Matchplay debut in the process.

Having won his PDC Tour Card for the first time in January, Hughes took just five months to taste success on the PDC stage, defeating Stephen Bunting 8-3 in the final at the PVA Expo.

The win also secures a maiden appearance at the World Matchplay for a resilient Hughes, who plied his trade on the PDC Challenge Tour in 2018 having failed to win a Tour Card at his first attempt.

"It's an amazing feeling to win my first title, I've worked so hard for this moment," said Hughes, who defeated Devon Petersen, Adrian Lewis, Ron Meulenkamp, Ian White and Simon Whitlock to reach the final.

"I've been playing well for a while now, better than I played this weekend strangely enough, and now I've finally got the results to show for it.

"To make the World Matchplay so soon is fantastic for me and now I can't wait to show the world what I'm about on one of the biggest stages in world darts."

The final of the ninth European Tour event of 2019 was played out by two European Tour final debutants, and it was Bunting who struck first with a break of throw in the opening leg after nervy missed darts at double from Hughes.

Bunting produced an incredible dart through to a blocked bullseye for a 95 checkout to take a 3-1 lead, but that was as good as it got for the world number 18 as Hughes reeled off the next seven legs without reply.

A clinical 83 checkout saw Hughes take the lead for the first time at 4-3, before the biggest moment of the match came in the following leg with Hughes taking out 120 for a double break of throw.

From there, it was Hughes' turn to punish Bunting's missed darts at double as Hughes rattled off the final three legs to become the fifth different winner on the 2019 European Tour and seal the £25,000 top prize.

A winner of two ProTour events in 2014 and 2016, Bunting came close to his first PDC stage title having claimed impressive victories over Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney on his way to the final.

"I am proud of my achievements this weekend, even winning just one game I would've taken positives from," said Bunting.

"It shows progress that I've reached my first European Tour final, hopefully it will be the first of many, and I can take my good form into the upcoming TV events."

The £140,000 event reached its climax on the final day of action, with the Last 16 taking place in the afternoon session, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in the evening.

Keegan Brown was the other big winner in Prague, as his run to the semi-finals saw him seal a return to the World Matchplay, defeating Michael van Gerwen and Mensur Suljovic along the way.

Corey Cadby's European Tour debut was ended by Mervyn King in the Last 16, while Saturday's nine-dart hero Gerwyn Price was knocked out by Whitlock.