Humphries takes positives from his run to Dutch Darts Championship final

Newbury’s Luke Humphries missed out on a sixth European Tour title when he lost to his close friend Dave Chisnall in the final of the Dutch Darts Championship at the weekend.

Cool Hand Luke battled past two UK Open champions, Andrew Gilding and Danny Noppert, on his way to the final and defied a 170 checkout from Damon Heta in a 7-3 semi-final victory.

Chisnall had already beaten Humphries in the final of February’s Baltic Darts Open and raced into a commanding lead in Leeuwarden as an 11-dart break of throw helped him establish a 4-1 cushion.

Humphries, who was born and raised in West Berkshire, battled back as, despite two 13-dart legs from Chizzy, he moved to within just one as he followed a 12-darter with a break of throw.

Chisnall had the last laugh however as he broke back with a 14-darter before a double 10 finish in the following leg secured an 8-5 victory.

While world number six Humphries hasn’t quite hit the heights he reached in 2022, he was upbeat about his time in the Netherlands despite a somewhat underwhelming showing in the final.

"I'll always take positives and I feel like I put up a good fight," he said.

"Apart from Ryan Searle, [Dave] is my best mate on tour, we get along really well, I know his game inside out.

"Considering he played really well I got close to him, but I'm really disappointed because I played nowhere like I can.

"I know there's more European Tour titles in me, but I keep running into a fantastic player and I have to give credit to Chizzy.

“I'm happy to make the final, gutted not to win but the better man won."