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Preview Friday afternoon Czech Darts Open: Menzies-White, Gilding, Nijman in action in opening session

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 7:25 AM ET

From Friday, September 5 to Sunday, September 7, the Czech Darts Open 2025 in Prague is on the program. This is the eleventh tournament on the PDC European Tour. The action begins on Friday afternoon

After the Flanders Darts Trophy last week, the Czech Darts Open is the next event in a series of Euro Tour tournaments leading up to the European Darts Championship at the end of October. The 32 best players on the European Tour qualify for this final tournament, so the coming weeks will decide who we will see back in the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund at the end of next month. Some familiar names such as Jermaine Wattimena, Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld are currently in 32nd place and will have to work hard in the coming tournaments to qualify.

Luke Humphries starts the tournament as the defending champion. 'Cool Hand Luke' was too strong in last year's final with an 8-1 win over surprise finalist Kim Huybrechts. Friday afternoon the opening session is scheduled in Prague, and below you can read which players will appear at the oche.

Ricardo Pietreczko v Benjamin Pratnemer

The first match of the evening will be between German Ricardo Pietreczko and Slovenian Benjamin Pratnemer. Pietreczko was still present in Antwerp last week, but immediately lost his opening match there 6-5 against Ryan Joyce. For Pratnemer it will be his second Euro Tour tournament this year. The Star' was already present at the European Darts Grand Prix, but did not make it past the first round.

Madars Razma v Lukas Unger

The second match of the afternoon features a match between Madars Razma and Lukas Unger. Razma has played three previous Euro Tour tournaments this year, with his best performance coming at the German Darts Grand Prix when he managed to reach the last 16. The other two tournaments, however, it was done after the first round for the 36-year-old Latvian. Unger managed to qualify for the tournament in Prague via the Host Nation Qualifier. The 41-year-old Czech makes his debut on the PDC European Tour.

Andrew Gilding v Darius Labanauskas

Next, Andrew Gilding and Darius Labanauskas take on each other. Gilding lost surprisingly in the first round to Mensur Suljovic at the Flanders Darts Trophy last weekend. Goldfinger had a solid year on the European Tour, including a final at the European Darts Grand Prix. Labanauskas played two tournaments on the Euro Tour this year, but reached the second round only once. On the Challenge Tour, however, 'Lucky D' is very successful. The Lithuanian is number one on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit with a lead of over 1,500 pounds over number two.

Cameron Menzies v Ian White

The fourth match will feature Cameron Menzies and Ian White. Menzies played last week in Antwerp against Dutchman Christian Kist in the first round, eventually going down 6-5 after an exciting match. Ian White also did not advance beyond the first round at the Flanders Darts Trophy. Diamond' lost his opening match to Joe Cullen 6-1.

Jermaine Wattimena v Brendan Dolan

Jermaine Wattimena faces Brendan Dolan. Wattimena looked to be on his way to a first-round victory at the Flanders Darts Trophy last week, but gave away a 4-2 lead against young German Leon Weber. 'The Machine Gun' is currently in 30th place on the European Tour Order of Merit. The Dutchman will have to get one more good result to be sure to participate in the European Darts Championship, the tournament where he managed to reach the final last year. Dolan can normally put that final tournament out of his mind. The History Maker played only one Euro Tour tournament this year, losing to Wessel Nijman in the first round. Normally, Wattimena should also be too strong for the Northern Irishman at this point.

Ryan Joyce v Karel Sedlacek

After Wattimena, it's the turn of Ryan Joyce and ... Joyce managed to reach the second round in Antwerp by beating Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 in his first match. In that second round, however, he was defeated by Damon Heta, who beat 'Relentless' 6-4. Sedlacek had to qualify for the tournament through the Host Nation Qualifier, and did so successfully. 'Evil Charlie' was also present in Antwerp last weekend, where he managed to beat Wessel Nijman in the first round. In the second round, however, Josh Rock was too high and the Czech lost narrowly 6-5. In front of his own audience in Prague, Sedlacek might just surprise.

Luke Woodhouse v William O'Connor

The penultimate match of the evening is between Luke Woodhouse and William O'Connor. Woodhouse won his first two matches last weekend convincingly 6-0 to reach the last 16. There, 'Woody' was also eventually too strong 6-5 to Mensur Suljovic, advancing to the quarterfinals. However, Josh Rock, who would eventually reach the final, was too strong 6-4 for the Englishman. O'Connor has already played five Euro Tour tournaments this year, but without any real success. His best result came at the Dutch Darts Championship, when he lost 6-3 to Luke Humphries in the quarterfinals.

Wessel Nijman v Richard Veenstra

Wessel Nijman faces Richard Veenstra. With two previous semifinals on the European Tour, Nijman has already achieved good results this year. All the more surprising that he went down in the first round against Karel Sedlacek in Antwerp last week. Veenstra has not yet been very successful on the Euro Tour this year. 'Flyers' has played three tournaments so far, but never managed to reach the second round. Based on the current form of both men, Nijman should normally be the favorite to conclude this Dutch clash winning.