Luke Humphries claimed his sixth PDC European Tour title in spectacular style with glory over Michael van Gerwen in Monday's NEO.bet German Darts Grand Prix final in Munich.
World Champion Humphries had picked up his maiden European Tour success in the German Darts Grand Prix two years ago, and recaptured the title to the delight of a sell-out crowd at Zenith.
Humphries had been outstanding in his second round win over Luke Woodhouse on Sunday, and swept to glory on Easter Monday with four brilliant displays.
The World Champion - a winner of three Premier League nights during March - stated his intentions by opening Finals Day with a 111.63 average in his 6-2 third round win over Ryan Joyce.
He repeated that scoreline in the quarter-finals against Danny Noppert - where he averaged 107 to Noppert's 106 - and then saw off Premier League rival Gerwyn Price 7-3 in the semi-finals, as his average dipped to 99.93.
Humphries was, though, almost unplayable in the final as he denied Van Gerwen a fourth German Darts Grand Prix title in an 8-1 romp against the world number two, averaging 112.66 and taking out a second 170 finish of the event as he hit eight doubles from 13 attempts.
"I was just unbeatable there to be honest and I'm really, really proud of the way I've played this weekend," said Humphries. "That's the level you have to be at to win nowadays.
"I felt a little bit tired against Gezzy but I kept going and that final against Michael felt effortless, it felt good.
"To put in performances like that in finals is obviously really pleasing, but for me pick up another European Tour title two years on since my first is really special.
"The crowd have been absolutely amazing for me, it's something that I'm not used to but I really appreciate it - it meant a lot."
Van Gerwen took the final's opening leg with a 14-darter, but that would be as good as it got for the Dutchman as Humphries levelled in the same manner before punishing a miss at double eight with another 14-darter to break.
Humphries then took out 112 to move 3-1 up, fired in checkouts of 81 and 96 for 11-darters to put daylight between the pair and then landed another 14-darter for a 6-1 cushion.
A sensational 170 checkout - matching his high finish against Woodhouse on Sunday - moved Humphries to the brink of victory, and three missed doubles from Van Gerwen in the next allowed him in to seal the title.
"I think the two best players in the world were fighting it out. I know 8-1 is a bit of a flattering score but me and Michael will have many finals in the future," added Humphries.
"The way I've played this weekend is the levels you have to be to win - that's how crazy the game's got and that's how good you have to be to beat the likes of Michael.
"He's been here for ten years consistently one of the best players in the world and I look up to him a lot, so to beat him in another final is fantastic.
"I just love playing him to be honest, he shows a lot of respect and it was a great final. That's elite sport - sometimes it's your day and today was my day."
Van Gerwen had been bidding to claim a fourth German Darts Grand Prix title and a first ranking success since May, but was left with the £12,000 runner-up prize.
However, he had been in fine form himself during Monday, whitewashing Joe Cullen with a 102 average in the last 16 and dropping only two legs apiece against Jermaine Wattimena and Martin Schindler in reaching the final.
"It's a good time for myself to [reach] the final," said Van Gerwen. "Of course there's a lot of negatives but also a lot of positives and my form I think has come from far - to reach the final I think is a big positive.
"I want to say thank you to the crowd, thanks for the organisation - I think it was a good tournament and I'm pleased.
"You need to perform really well if you want to beat Luke, we all know that. Early doors in the game I had a few chances but my scoring wasn't good enough and fair play to him.
"I think at this moment he is the best player and we all have to face it, we have to battle but he also knows this is not going to run forever. He's playing some cracking darts, I have to admit that."
Price reached his second successive European Tour semi-final of 2024, whitewashing Ryan Searle with a scintillating third round display before edging out Josh Rock in a deciding leg in the quarter-finals.
Schindler's best run for 12 months - since reaching a European Tour semi-final in Riesa on the same weekend last year - saw him overcome both Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall 6-4 on Monday before losing out to Van Gerwen.
Wattimena saw off top seed Dave Chisnall 6-5 in the third round, while Rock and Noppert overcame Premier League aces Michael Smith and Rob Cross respectively on Monday afternoon to book quarter-final places.
The PDC European Tour continues from April 12-14 with the NEO.bet International Darts Open in Riesa. For tickets, visit the PDC Europe website.
The tournament will be broadcast live on PDCTV, exclusively on DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, through Viaplay in various territories and through bookmakers' websites worldwide.
Click here for live scores, match stats & results.
NEO.bet German Darts Grand Prix
Monday April 1
Afternoon Session
Third Round
Josh Rock 6-4 Michael Smith
Gerwyn Price 6-0 Ryan Searle
Danny Noppert 6-2 Rob Cross
Luke Humphries 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Ross Smith
Martin Schindler 6-4 Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Joe Cullen
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Josh Rock
Luke Humphries 6-2 Danny Noppert
Martin Schindler 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 7-3 Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Martin Schindler
Final
Luke Humphries 8-1 Michael van Gerwen