World Champion Luke Littler recorded an outstanding display opening his campaign for the PDC’s SUPERBET Poland Darts Open glory on Saturday, as Luke Humphries defied a late Krzysztof Ratajski fightback to end home hopes in Kraków.
Day Two of the inaugural Poland Darts Open saw the seeded stars enter the fray at the EXPO, as Littler delivered a darting masterclass in dispatching Mike De Decker.
The world number one averaged 113.84 and pinned all six of his attempts at double to run out a 6-1 winner against the former World Grand Prix champion.
“I definitely needed to put on a performance tonight,” admitted Littler, who won the last four legs of the contest in just 47 darts.
“It’s not gone my way in the first three weeks of the Premier League, but I certainly want to be the first winner here in Poland this weekend.”
Humphries, meanwhile, fired in a 15-dart break to triumph in a deciding-leg thriller against home hero Ratajski, who fought back from 5-2 adrift to threaten a sensational fightback.
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European Champion Gian van Veen also advanced via a last-leg shoot-out, denying Andrew Gilding to set up a fascinating showdown against Nathan Aspinall on Sunday afternoon.
Aspinall, who claimed top spot on the European Tour rankings last year, began his 2026 campaign with an impressive 6-3 win against Darryl Pilgrim, who averaged 101 in a losing cause.
Jonny Clayton and Michael Smith will also go head-to-head on Finals Day, after overcoming Adam Gawlas and Joe Cullen respectively on Saturday evening.
Clayton put in a clinical display on the outer ring to sink a spirited Gawlas 6-4, before Smith crashed in seven 180s to edge out Cullen, sealing his progress with an 11-dart break in the decider.
However, Gary Anderson and James Wade were amongst the high-profile casualties on a bumper day of round two action, as five seeds crashed out in Poland.
Wessel Nijman recorded a fourth consecutive victory over Anderson to secure his place in the last 16, averaging 103.46 to complete a 6-2 success against the two-time World Champion.
“I don’t know how I keep beating him,” admitted Nijman, who faces Anderson’s compatriot Cameron Menzies in the last 16.
“Against Gary, I think it’s just a good rhythm. I’m very happy with the way I played today, and I hope I can bring the same game as I did today into tomorrow.”
Menzies was similarly impressive on Day Two, whitewashing a below-par Wade to defeat the left-hander for the fifth time in six meetings.
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Chris Dobey also progressed with a whitewash win over Connor Scutt, converting 67% of his attempts at double to create a last 16 tussle against Luke Woodhouse.
Woodhouse overturned a 4-1 deficit to account for Callan Rydz, reeling off five straight legs to triumph with a 102 average, and completing the comeback with a clinical 118 kill.
Cristo Reyes will feature at Finals Day in a European Tour event for the first time since 2018, averaging north of 99 in a 6-2 victory against World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle.
The Spaniard’s reward is a showdown against Premier League star Josh Rock, who opened his title challenge with a comprehensive 6-1 win over William O’Connor – aided by a 103 average.
Ross Smith also landed a ton-plus average in his 6-1 demolition of Daryl Gurney, and the former European Champion will now take on Littler to kick off Finals Day.
Stephen Bunting and Jermaine Wattimena will renew their rivalry on the European Tour stage, after coming through gruelling contests against Niels Zonneveld and Danny Noppert respectively.
Bunting defied six 180s from Zonneveld to wrap up a hard-fought 6-4 win, while Wattimena survived multiple match darts to deny Noppert in an all-Dutch affair.
Croatia’s Boris Krcmar completes the last 16 line-up, and his reward for dumping out German number one Martin Schindler will be a round three tussle against Humphries.
The year’s opening Winamax European Tour event concludes on Sunday, with the afternoon session’s round three followed in the evening session by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
2026 SUPERBET Poland Darts Open
Saturday February 21
Round Two
Afternoon Session
Boris Krcmar 6-4 Martin Schindler
Chris Dobey 6-0 Connor Scutt
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Darryl Pilgrim
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Danny Noppert
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Gary Anderson
Cameron Menzies 6-0 James Wade
Ross Smith 6-1 Daryl Gurney
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Ryan Searle
Evening Session
Josh Rock 6-1 William O’Connor
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Adam Gawlas
Michael Smith 6-5 Joe Cullen
Luke Littler 6-1 Mike De Decker
Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Callan Rydz
Luke Humphries 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Niels Zonneveld
Gian van Veen 6-5 Andrew Gilding
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