Czech Darts Open News: Luke Humphries claims second European Tour title of the season

It wasn't a smooth ride for Luke Humphries but he eventually overcame fellow Englishman Rob Cross 8-5 in a back-and-forth final.

It is an impressive third overall ranking title of the season for the man who didn't have a single senior win to his name when the 2022 campaign began.

Despite a wobble in the middle, he was virtually faultless in the final, averaging 100 across the 14 games with five 180s and 47% accuracy on doubles.

Humphries burst out of the blocks with a 180 in the first frame to go 1-0 but Cross hit back right away by closing the second out with a double 16.

The eventual champion then moved into a commanding 3-1 lead with a 96 checkout to break Humphries again in the third and held his leg with a double eight finish.

There were two 180s in the fifth leg but Humphries prevailed again to move 4-1 ahead but Cross changed the momentum of the match with a 145 checkout to break back and make it 4-2.

Cross kept it close, exchanging legs with Humphries to bring the score to 6-5, but from that point, it was all the latter who closed out an 82 checkout to break and held his leg to claim the title 8-5 with a double six to seal the win.

"I'm noticing in my game now, I'm getting that confidence. I want to be in the Premier League. If I can keep playing like this on the stage, then it will come," he said after win.