HUMPHRIES SECURES CZECH OPEN HAT-TRICK!
08/09/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
LUKE HUMPHRIES clinched a Czech Darts Open hat-trick after beating Josh Rock 8-5 in the final at Prague.
World No. 1 Humphries picked up his EIGHTH Euro Tour title after an impressive comeback win against ‘Rocky’.
Antrim thrower Rock took a 3-1 lead before defying a terrific three-leg burst from Humphries to restore parity with a 153 checkout in leg eight.
Rock paid the price for spurning three darts to level at six apiece, as Humphries followed up a clinical 98 checkout by pinning double ten to retain his crown.
‘Cool Hand’ admits he’s feeling dangerous again after sealing victory at the Expo Arena.
He said: “It’s obviously special to me, but it’s very emotional. I feel like it’s been a tough three months, really. Since I won the Premier League, I feel like it’s become hard for me. I feel like I’m struggling here and there.
“Now I feel dangerous. I feel like I’m going to go to the Pro Tour in the week, be on my top form and then the World Series Finals. I feel good, but this is where you need to be at your best.
“You’re at the back end of the calendar and I know now, if I want to stay No.1 or I want to stay at the top of the game, I have to put the effort in and work hard and I want to be world champion again, so yeah, it all starts from now.”
Humphries thanked the Czech crowd for their support and heaped praise on big rival Rock.
He added: “Sometimes when I play I don’t feel like I get so much love and I feel like I’ve got it here. Every game I’ve played I’ve felt the love and you don’t win three in the same place for some random reason.
“I never give in. I always try to find a way. He [Rock] is what I’d call the new generation now. Him and Luke Littler are two that are going to dominate the sport for many, many years. But I’m going to be a part of it as well.
“The crowd support helped me. When you have that love, it makes you feel wanted. I felt like the people wanted me to be here. I wanted to win for them and then you have a little bit more to try for. If I could have all 14 Euro Tours, I’d put it in this room.”
Cheshire thrower Humphries recorded a routine 6-3 triumph against Martin Schindler in round three.
Eight-times major winner Humphries averaged a stellar 103.53 to defeat Wessel Nijman 6-5 in the quarter-final and dispatched James Wade 7-1 in the last four.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
