Luke Littler closed the hole on Luke Humphries on the high of the PDC Order of Benefit after a dramatic final-leg victory over Josh Rock within the closing of the Flanders Darts Trophy in Belgium.
Littler had seen off Damon Heta in a final-leg decider and brushed apart Daryl Gurney 7-1 to e-book a showdown towards Rock, who beat Stephen Bunting and James Wade on his solution to the ultimate on the Antwerp Xpob.
The showdown was a repeat of the Betfred World Matchplay semi-final in Blackpool final month, the place Littler produced a comeback victory, with ‘The Nuke’ having to return from behind once more to say an 8-7 victory and register a fourth PDC European Tour title.
Littler recovered from being 5-2 all the way down to rattle off 5 of the subsequent six legs to maneuver 7-6 up towards Rock, just for the Northern Irishman to reply by nailing a 161 checkout on the bullseye to take an absorbing closing to a decider.
Rock had the throw within the final-leg shootout however rapidly fell behind to Littler, who posted his ninth most of the match earlier than taking out a 96 end on double 18 to grab victory with an 11-darter.
“I think I started off okay, but obviously I wasn’t the quickest there,” Littler stated. “The timing of the treble 20s, the duvet photographs, the doubles all went effectively.
“When Josh hit the 161, it wasn’t a good feeling. Then I just knew that I had to break and win the game. It might sound crazy but I love a last-leg decider! I back myself near enough every time, whether it’s with or against the darts, but I had to go out in 11 there.”
Victory is Littler’s second PDC European Tour victory of the yr and fourth of his profession, three coming in Belgium, with the £30,000 first prize shifting him lower than £250,000 behind Humphries on the PDC Order of Benefit.
Littler has already gained the World Championship, UK Open, World Matchplay and two PDC World Sequence titles in 2025, with alternatives to return over the approaching months to switch Humphries as No 1 earlier than his title defence on the Alexandra Palace.
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Highlights from January’s World Darts Championship closing, the place Luke Littler thrashed Michael van Gerwen to win the occasion for the primary time
“He’s not officially world No 1 yet but he will be soon and that’s why he is the world champion,” Rock stated after his slim loss. “He knows how to win games.
“I am at all times a bit too onerous on myself however I possibly ought to have finished higher. When you go to a final-leg decider with the world champion it’s a must to give all of it, however luckily I did not try this.”
What’s subsequent?
The PDC European Tour heads to Prague for the Czech Darts Open, starting on Friday, earlier than the Jack’s On line casino World Sequence of Darts Finals happen the next week in Amsterdam.
Dwell darts is again on Sky Sports activities from October 6-12, when the BoyleSports World Grand Prix is held in Leicester. Not bought Sky? Stream darts and extra with no contract.
