Josh Rock and Gian van Veen rise as Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler dumped out of Czech Darts Open

Josh Rock and Gian van Veen produced the shocks of the day at the Czech Darts Open 2025, with Rock dumping out Michael van Gerwen and Van Veen stunning Luke Littler.

Rock set the tone at the Czech Darts Open on Sunday afternoon with a relentless display of heavy scoring and composure on the doubles, edging out Van Gerwen 6-4. The Northern Irishman opened with a 12-darter and maintained control throughout, despite a few missed chances on the outer ring. Van Gerwen held his own legs but was always chasing, unable to reproduce the form he had shown the previous day. Rock, however, never looked shaken, sealing a deserved victory and booking his place in the quarter-finals.

If that was a statement, Van Veen delivered the day’s biggest shock. The young Dutchman toppled Littler 6-4 in a thriller, producing a string of high-quality legs and capping it with a superb 76 checkout. Littler had started fast with a 13-darter, but Van Veen hit back immediately with a 90 finish and never let go of the momentum. Even after missing a chance at a 145 checkout in the closing stages, Van Veen held his nerve to complete a famous win.

There was more Dutch joy as Wessel Nijman produced a blistering comeback against Rob Cross. Trailing early, Nijman reeled off five straight legs, including a sparkling 146 checkout, before nailing 121 to wrap up a 6-3 triumph. Meanwhile, Jermaine Wattimena battled through a tight affair with Ryan Searle. Searle missed out on a nine-darter in the opening leg, but Wattimena showed resilience, clinching the deciding leg with a brilliant 104 finish to complete a 6-5 win.

Humphries, Bunting and Price shine

Elsewhere, world champion Luke Humphries came through a testing clash with Martin Schindler. The German threatened with a fine 146 finish and kept Humphries under pressure, but the Englishman found the right shots at the right moments – including a 13-darter – to pull clear and secure a 6-3 victory.

Peter Wright looked in control against Stephen Bunting, moving 4-2 up with a 121 finish, only to let the match slip. Bunting clawed his way back with strong finishing, forced a decider, and kept his cool to complete the comeback 6-5.

James Wade also booked his place in the last eight with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Ross Smith. Smith averaged 105.34 and piled on the scoring pressure, but Wade’s clinical finishing, highlighted by a superb 101 checkout, proved decisive as the left-hander closed out the match.

In the all-Welsh showdown, Gerwyn Price got the better of Jonny Clayton 6-4. Price opened with a 110 checkout and later produced a 12-darter in the decider to secure victory after both men had traded holds for much of the contest.

With Rock, Van Veen, Nijman and Wattimena all progressing, it was a day that firmly belonged to the Dutch – and to one inspired Northern Irishman.