For three years the Czech Darts Open has felt like Luke Humphries’ private property. Not any more. On Sunday night at PVA EXPO, world number one Luke Littler walked back onto the European Tour after a six-month absence and left with the trophy.
The Nuke beat the three-time champion 8-6 in a frantic first Luke-versus-Luke Euro Tour final, claimed his sixth European Tour title and pocketed £35,000. Humphries, chasing a third straight Prague crown, missed two darts at double 16 to force a decider.
Littler stepped in, found double 10, and the reign was over.
It was the ending the weekend had been circling since Friday. That night Beau Greaves made history, becoming the first woman to win a match on the European Tour by coming from 3-1 down to beat Daryl Gurney.
Humphries ended her run the following evening with an average just shy of 109, but the moment belonged to Greaves.
Meanwhile Littler, rusty by his own admission, opened with a 108.59 average against Niko Springer and said he had “got rid of a bit of dust.” By Sunday the dust was gone.
The last-16 session produced a last eight of proper weight: Price, Smith, O’Connor, Humphries, Clayton, van Gerwen, Noppert and Littler. The evening then belonged to the favourites.
Littler whitewashed Noppert. Humphries saw off O’Connor. Van Gerwen beat Clayton. Price edged Smith.
In the semis Humphries beat Price 7-4; Littler then produced the performance of the day, a 106.64 average and a 7-3 win over Michael van Gerwen.That set up the final everyone wanted.
Best of 15. Two darts world champions. One prize.
Humphries had lost only once in 23 previous matches at this event. Littler had never won it. The match was tight, fast and unfinished until the last throw.
When Humphries missed those two at double 16, the door opened. Littler walked through it.
Afterwards he was typically short. “I’m back with a bang.”
The roll of honour now reads Jamie Hughes, Humphries, Peter Wright, Humphries, Humphries, Littler. The European Tour moves to Antwerp next week.
The two Lukes will meet again. In Prague, on this night, it was The Nuke who had the last word.
Images: PDC Europe
