LUKE ‘The Nuke’ Littler be aiming to continue yesterday’s stunning form as he attempts to win a third European Tour title of the year in Prague today.

After switching back to his old darts, the Warrington 17-year-old produced a tournament record average at the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open last night.

Having trialled using a new design of darts during the midweek Players Championship events in which he exited early doors, the Premier League champion returned in style to the set-up which he has used for much of an incredible year.

He was in blistering form to average 110.43 against Nathan Aspinall in a 6-1 second-round win at PVA Expo, producing a finishing masterclass with 91, 128, 88 and 124 combinations in a fine performance.

"I'm happy with that," said Littler, who meets Damon Heta in a mouth-watering third-round contest this afternoon.

"I know what I can throw with these darts and that's why I didn't play with the gold ones.

"There was loads of talk about changing my darts so I've come here this weekend and made the decision to go back to what I know best, and they went well tonight.

"If I play like this again tomorrow I'll be very happy."

Former Padgate Academy student Littler, who has recently moved into a plush five-bedroom detached home with indoor swimming pool in Appleton, has already won two European Tour titles this year on his way a top-32 finish on the order of merit which has sealed his place in the European Championships later this week.

Now his hurdle to reach tonight’s quarter-finals is Australian Heta, who had earlier booked his spot in the last 16 with a 6-3 defeat of Gabriel Clemens, averaging over 102 himself.

The winner will face the victor of the tie between Alan Soutar and Michael van Gerwen in the 7pm quarter-final.

Meanwhile, world champion Luke Humphries produced a key ten-darter and averaged over 100 as he raced past Ritchie Edhouse for the loss of just two legs in their second-round meeting.

"It was a decent performance but I know I can improve," said Humphries, who is aiming for a second European Tour title of 2024.

"I feel like there's another level in me - I'm not playing my best but I manage to be doing the right things at the right time. I want to be back to my fluent best."

Humphries now meets Gian van Veen - who won through to the PDC Winmau World Youth Championship final on Monday and continued that form to defeat James Wade 6-2.

Michael van Gerwen - a 37-time European Tour winner - was another stand-out performer as he overcame a resurgent Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4, averaging 104.56 and hitting five 180s alongside two 11-dart breaks of throw.

BoyleSports World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker's superb run of form continued with a whitewash of Danny Noppert.

De Decker was in ruthless mood as he averaged 102.48 and took out a 150 finish to defeat Noppert, who was restricted to just one dart at a double.

Martin Schindler, a two-time European Tour winner this year, came from a leg down to defeat Peter Wright 6-1 with a 103 average, finishing a key 144 and six doubles from seven attempts to set up a tie with De Decker.

Jermaine Wattimena was another whitewash winner on the second day of action in Prague, averaging 107.36 in an outstanding blitz of Chris Dobey, finishing 126 and 120 and hitting three 12-darters.

Wattimena now faces Raymond van Barneveld in an all-Dutch tie in the last 16, with the five-time World Champion having overcome Maik Kuivenhoven - a late replacement after Gerwyn Price withdrew due to a trapped nerve in his neck - by a 6-4 margin.

Home hopes in Prague will rest on Pavel Drtil, after the Czech qualifier followed up his first-round win over Joe Cullen by defeating Josh Rock 6-5.

Rock hit back from 3-0 and 4-1 down to take out 118 to force a deciding leg, but Drtil took out 78 to seal victory - ending the tie with a clinical six doubles from seven attempts.

The host nation qualifier now meets Belgium's Kim Huybrechts, who produced heroics in a deciding leg against Luke Woodhouse with a ten-darter.

Michael Smith and Jonny Clayton will clash in another tasty third-round tie after they progressed in style yesterday.

Smith also sealed his spot in the Machineseeker European Championship by averaging almost 108 in his 6-3 win over Ryan Searle, while Clayton saw off Masters champion Stephen Bunting by the same margin with another ton-topping average.

Alan Soutar edged out second seed Ross Smith 6-5 to move through to a clash with Van Gerwen, while Ricardo Pietreczko's reward for an 11-leg defeat of Martin Lukeman is a clash with Niels Zonneveld, who saw off a below-par Dave Chisnall 6-2.

Finals day begins with the third round this afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a blockbuster evening session.

Following today's conclusion of the Czech Darts Open, the field for next weekend's European Championship will be confirmed - with 30 players now safely qualified for the Dortmund event.

Aspinall and Dirk van Duijvenbode are the only players in the provisional top 32 of the European Tour Order of Merit in any danger, with Zonneveld, Soutar, Huybrechts and Drtil still harbouring hopes of forcing their way into the field.

Live coverage of the Czech Darts Open will be streamed through Viaplay, and through DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers' worldwide.

2024 Gambrinus Czech Darts Open results

Saturday October 19, Second Round, Afternoon Session

Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Martin Lukeman

Damon Heta 6-3 Gabriel Clemens

Jermaine Wattimena 6-0 Chris Dobey

Pavel Drtil 6-5 Josh Rock

Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Luke Woodhouse

Alan Soutar 6-5 Ross Smith

Mike De Decker 6-0 Danny Noppert

Michael Smith 6-3 Ryan Searle

Evening Session

Gian van Veen 6-2 James Wade

Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Dave Chisnall

Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Maik Kuivenhoven

Jonny Clayton 6-3 Stephen Bunting

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski

Luke Littler 6-1 Nathan Aspinall

Luke Humphries 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse

Martin Schindler 6-1 Peter Wright

2024 Gambrinus Czech Darts Open fixtures

Sunday October 20, Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST), Third Round

Niels Zonneveld v Ricardo Pietreczko, noon

Jonny Clayton v Michael Smith, 12.30pm

Pavel Drtil v Kim Huybrechts, 1pm

Raymond van Barneveld v Jermaine Wattimena, 1.30pm

Alan Soutar v Michael van Gerwen, 2pm

Damon Heta v Luke Littler, 2.30pm

Luke Humphries v Gian van Veen, 3pm

Mike De Decker v Martin Schindler, 3.30pm

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final