LUKE LITTLER was left “disgusted” as old foe Luke Humphries dumped him out of the Czech Darts Open and romped to his TENTH title in jut overt a year.
The teen sensation could not stop the World No1 clinically winning theri semi-final in Prague 7-4, before Humphries walloped Kim Huybrechts 8-1.
Littler, 17, simply had no answer to his pal Humphries, who didn’t miss a double in the opening seven legs to lead 5-2.
However, The Nuke was still in with a shout of coming back until a messy ninth leg.
Both players made a hash of the checkouts, Littler blowing five chances to break the Humphries throw.
‘Cool Hand’ took out double one to extend his lead to 6-3 and then delivered double 12 kill to knock out his big rival and friend.
Humphries ended with an average of 108 with an outstanding 53 per cent checkout success rate.
Sky Sports Commentator Dan Dawson said: “It was a stunningly high quality game.
“The World No1 has asserted his authority, Littler bows out with a tournament average of over 110.
As you can see he is disgusted he has not completed one of the greatest Euro tour campaigns we’ve ever seen.”
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Humphries went on to dismantle Belgium’s World No 38 HuyBrechts to pick up the £30,000 top prize.
He said: “I think I played a solid game. When I played Ritchie Edhouse in my first game I felt good but I felt like I needed a spark.
“It kind of did happen today. I felt that spark again. I still want to change something, I still know there’s another level in me that can get better.
“Luke (Littler) was probably one of the fantastic players of the tournament. But I knew I could beat him. I’ve done it many times and I believed in myself.
“It’s a nice way to cap off what hasn’t been my best ProTour year.”
‘The Nuke’ had stormed through to the last four with a new Euro Tour average record of 116.51 average in beating Damon Heta 6-3.
He then gave Michael van Gerwen a 6-1 battering. The Dutch star’s 112.19 average was the highest losing average in Euro Tour history.
The Warrington whizkid hit six 180s – leaving MVG’s 112.19 average as the highest ever from a loser in the history of the PDC European Tour.
And the gobsmacked Dutchman took it in the best possible spirit.
Alongside a picture of himself playfully grabbing Littler’s neck, he posted on X: “This is not gonna happen again.
“Fantastic game by @LukeTheNuke180. What a talent. All the best.”
Littler’s Czech run came after he appeared to let slip by mistake that he had a new girlfriend.
He was gaming with friend ‘Angry Ginge’ when a female voice off camera said: “I’m gonna try and get some sleep because I am so tired.”
Angry Ginge pressed him on who it was – with Littler seeing the funny side but also sounding unhappy his possible secret might be out.
Michael van Gerwen lost 6-1 to Luke Littler in the Czech Darts Open quarter-finals…
He averaged 112.19 – the highest ever Euro Tour losing average!
#BBCDarts pic.twitter.com/vIoDUKhjm6
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 20, 2024
