Darts results: Rob Cross beats Luke Humphries 8-6 to claim European Darts Grand Prix title
Rob Cross celebrated his maiden European Tour success on a thrilling final day at the Interwetten European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, which culminated in a dramatic 8-6 win over Luke Humphries in Sunday's showpiece.
Two-time European Champion Cross had remarkably lost in each of his previous seven European Tour finals, but he broke his duck at the Glaspalast to scoop the £30,000 top prize.
Humphries defeated Cross in three European Tour finals in 2022 – including last year’s decider – and the pair locked horns in a crucial clash to determine who would represent England alongside Michael Smith at this year’s World Cup of Darts.
Cross arrived in Sindelfingen with a £17,500 lead over Humphries on the PDC Order of Merit, meaning Humphries had to retain the title if he was to secure a debut in the Pairs event.
However, Cross produced a clinical display to claim the spoils in Sindelfingen, defying a 104 average from Humphries to secure a second title in the space of eight days.
“I’m just so glad that I’ve won a European Tour title. I’ve been striving to win one of these for six years,” said Cross – a winner at Players Championship 11 last Saturday.
“I have got that monkey off my back now. I’ve been playing well for a little while, so I can move forward now.
“I’m playing some of the best darts I’ve ever played. I’m also probably the happiest I’ve been in life for quite a while, and that’s really important for me. I’m in a really good place.
“I’m happy to be at the World Cup. I wanted to be there, but so did Luke, so commiserations to him. What a player he is. He’s quality.”
Cross kicked off Finals Day with a 6-3 victory over Scottish veteran Ross Montgomery, before converting two ton-plus finishes to account for Krzysztof Ratajski in the last eight.
In the semi-finals, Cross then overcame Ross Smith in a battle of the European Champions, averaging 101 to celebrate a 7-4 success and set up a mouth-watering showdown against Humphries.
The opening four legs of Sunday’s final went with throw, before Cross struck the first blow courtesy of a magnificent ten-dart break in leg five.
Humphries converted a two-dart 86 combination for an instant riposte in leg six, only for Cross to regain the initiative in leg nine, courtesy of a clinical 100 kill.
The former World Champion extended his lead to 6-4 in a crucial tenth leg which saw Humphries squander three darts at double to level at five apiece, and this proved decisive.
Humphries preserved his hopes with 11 and 13-dart holds to reduce the arrears to 6-7, but Cross sealed the deal with a nerveless 72 finish on double 18, after Humphries had missed the bull for a 167-skin saver.
European Darts Grand Prix: Schedule and results
Friday April May 12
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
- Gian van Veen 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
- Madars Razma 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse
- Pascal Rupprecht 6-5 Christian Kist
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Graham Usher
- Ross Montgomery 6-4 Marko Kantele
- Ricky Evans 6-3 Ian White
- Keegan Brown 6-3 Marcel Walpen
- Martijn Kleermaker 6-4 Alan Souta
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
- Jose de Sousa 6-5 Nico Kurz
- Adam Smith-Neale 6-5 Roman Benecky
- Daryl Gurney 6-3 Dylan Slevin
- Chris Dobey 6-4 Graham Hall
- Steve Beaton 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Liam Maendl-Lawrance
- Josh Payne 6-3 Simon Whitlock
- Gabriel Clemens 6-4 Lee Evans
Saturday April 13
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
- Josh Rock 6-0 Keegan Brown
- Dave Chisnall 6-2 Pascal Rupprecht
- Ross Smith 6-0 Steve Beaton
- Madars Razma 6-1 Ryan Searle
- Rob Cross 6-2 Martijn Kleermaker
- Gian van Veen 6-4 Danny Noppert
- Damon Heta 6-3 Adam Smith-Neale
- Daryl Gurney 6-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Andrew Gilding
- Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Jose de Sousa
- Luke Humphries 6-5 Chris Dobey
- Gerwyn Price 6-2 Ricky Evans
- Joe Cullen 6-5 Josh Payne
- Martin Schindler 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
- Ross Montgomery 6-4 Jonny Clayton
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Sunday April 14
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
- Luke Humphries 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
- Gian van Veen 6-3 Josh Rock
- Damon Heta 6-5 Joe Cullen
- Martin Schindler 6-5 Gerwyn Price
- Ross Smith 6-4 Daryl Gurney
- Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Madars Razma
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-1 Dave Chisnall
- Rob Cross 6-3 Ross Montgomery
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-finals
- Luke Humphries 6-4 Gian van Veen
- Damon Heta 6-5 Martin Schindler
- Ross Smith 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
- Rob Cross 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
Semi-finals
- Luke Humphries 7-5 Damon Heta
- Ross Smith 4-7 Rob Cross
Final
- Rob Cross 8-6 Luke Humphries
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