Luke Humphries completes hat-trick of Czech Darts Open titles with incredible Josh Rock final win in Prague

Luke Humphries has defended his Czech Darts Open crown that he won last year defeating Kim Huybrechts and it is a third in total completing a hat-trick. Albeit it wasn't as easy as his 8-1 hammering last year.

Rock led for the most part until a hammer blow which saw Humphries break for 7-5 and it was game over for Rock as 'Cool Hand Luke' picked his pocket and showed why he is World No.1. Down on his game in Blackpool, he will hope to hit the sweet spot at the right time as he heads into a busy Autumn. A super confidence boost.

While for Rock, he lost last week in the Flanders Darts Trophy final and will be wondering what he has to do after being beaten narrowly by Luke Littler. This week it is the other Luke as an incredible weekend goes titleless for the Northern Irishman. Right position but not hitting the back of the net.

To start, Humphries laid down 48 with Rock needing 146. He missed double 16 for the break and Humphries returned only to miss two darts. Rock hit double four for 1-0 and an early break.

Rock misses 112 to hold but Humphries isn't on a makeable out shot. But he did have a go at 130 as Rock missed another chance. But 'Rocky' finally got over the line at 2-0. Humphries missed chances to hold but Rock missed chances to break again.

Humphries just about held on double eight for 2-1. He broke though for 3-3 as he hit a 10-darter on double 18 and then held for 4-3 on double eight.

Double eight for Humphries saw him go 5-4 up with a hold as he continued to dominate the final up to that point. This after Rock had held with an incredible 153 to stop Humphries getting a go at 97. Rock held to make it 5-5 but he still needed that break.

Rock hit a 180 but Humphries still had six darts at 124. 5-5 for Humphries as he pinned double eight. It was a hammer blow though for Rock as he missed chance after chance to hold and Humphries bookended it with a 98 checkout to break and go 7-5 up. He then closed it out 8-5.

Two extremes from close ties to thrashings

To get to this point in the Evening Session, it was the tale of two extremes as the first two games were very much close ran affairs. Wessel Nijman in facing Luke Humphries led 2-0 including a 170 checkout but he lost 6-5.

Nijman followed that lead up with an 87 checkout for an 11-darter. Humphries hit back with a 70 checkout but was still 3-2 down. Nijman pinned double 10 for 4-2. Humphries hit a 78 checkout for 4-3. But Nijman returned for a 78 checkout to make it 5-3. Humphries finally hit double one but he needed a break or Nijman wins. An 81 checkout for a 12-darter and now Humphries escaped and was throwing for it. A 66 checkout snuffs out any chance of the win for Humphries as he sealed victory.

After that James Wade claimed victory against Stephen Bunting snuffing out the task of The Bullet in style in a decider 6-5 as he ended it with an 11-darter. While it then became the season of the thrashings as Gerwyn Price was walloped 6-0 by Gian van Veen who averaged 102.79 with a high checkout of 135 in an incredible display with Price missing all eight darts at double.