How The European Tour Has Changed Darts

European Tour

Christopher Kempf takes a look at how the European Tour has changed professional darts for the better.

2018 Unibet European Championship Draw

Machineseeker European Championship

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN begins his defence of the Unibet European Championship title against Paul Nicholson - field & draw confirmed.

2018 European Darts Trophy Day Two

European Tour

JELLE KLAASEN defeated world number two Peter Wright to progress to the Last 16 of the European Darts Trophy.

2018 European Darts Trophy Day One

European Tour

STEVE BEATON survived a match dart to defeat Kim Huybrechts 6-5 in the first round of the European Darts Trophy.

Klaasen Targets Strong End To 'Difficult' Year

Machineseeker European Championship

JELLE KLAASEN is targeting a strong end to a tough 2018.

Schindler Heads ET13 Host Nation Qualifiers

European Tour

MARTIN SCHINDLER headlined the six Host Nation Qualifiers for the European Darts Trophy on Thursday night.

2018 European Darts Trophy Draw/Schedule

European Tour

FORMER European Tour event winners Kim Huybrechts & Steve Beaton will clash in Friday's first round at the European Darts Trophy.

Unibet European Championship Qualification Latest

Machineseeker European Championship

THE RACE to qualify for the Unibet European Championship culminates with the European Darts Trophy.

ET13 UK Qualifiers Confirmed

European Tour

STEVE BEATON, Stephen Bunting and Mervyn King were among the players to secure their place in the European Darts Trophy.

Luke Humphries won his second European Tour title in the space of a month in Prague on Sunday, defeating Rob Cross 8-5 in the final of the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open.

Humphries further enhanced his reputation as one of the sport's hottest prospects with impressive victories over Michael van Gerwen and Dimitri Van den Bergh en route to the final.

A winner of April's Interwetten German Darts Grand Prix, Humphries averaged 100.34 in the final to rack up his third PDC ranking event win of 2022.

Humphries took early control in the final as he raced into a 4-1 lead, before Cross piled in a rot-stopping 145 checkout to gain a foothold in the contest.

The tenth leg saw Cross pounce on four missed doubles from Humphries to break throw and level at 5-5.

However, a crucial last dart double top saw Humphries break straight back before reeling off the last two legs in 26 darts to pocket the £25,000 winner's prize.

"To win one Euro Tour was great, but to win two is unbelievable - I'm over the moon," said Humphries.

"I think the final was the best I played all weekend. Rob and I are good friends and he pushed me really hard.

"When you make that final it's hard because you're tired after a long day and when he took the 145 out it drained me.

"But I think the last two legs show a lot about my game and are testament to what I am now.

"I need to start believing I'm one of the best players in the world.

"I'm getting that confidence in my game, I feel like I'm making the next step now."

Meanwhile, Cross was left to suffer an unwanted familiar feeling as he endured a sixth defeat in his sixth European Tour final.

"Credit to Luke, he was brilliant," said Cross, who defeated Ross Smith and Vincent van der Voort earlier in the day.

"I struggled to hold my throw, that was my Achilles' Heel in that one.

"I really enjoyed my weekend here, Prague has played host to a fantastic tournament with an amazing crowd.

"I wasn't at my best today but I almost got the result and I'll move onto the next one."

Sunday saw the tournament reach its climax with last 16 matches in the afternoon, before the evening session saw the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place.

Czech number one Adam Gawlas sent the home crowd into raptures with a dramatic 6-5 win over Ryan Searle in the last 16, before his dream run was ended by Van der Voort in the quarter-finals.

Drawboard