Darts results: Dimitri Van den Bergh survives last-leg decider to beat Luke Humphries in the UK Open final

The Belgian began his fourth major final as underdog but stormed into a 7-2 lead against the world champion, who was bidding for his fifth big title in six months.

Humphries courageously clawed his way back to 8-8 and then had the crowd on his side as Van den Bergh's questionable delaying tactics after winning the 18th leg to move 10-8 ahead prompted boos from the crowd.

The former World Matchplay champion then proceeded to miss six match darts over the next two legs as Humphries forced a decider but it was then Cool Hand's turn to spurn a pair of darts at a decisive double before Van den Bergh finally clinched victory.

“Luke showed again why he is a World Champion,” reflected an emotional Van den Bergh, who moves up to world number seven following his success at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.

“I lost my composure. I knew Luke wasn’t going to make it easy, but you have to dig deep, and all of a sudden it turned around.

“My Grandad passed away two years ago, and that’s my first major win since then, so it’s a really special moment for me.”

Van den Bergh endured a disappointing 2023 campaign which culminated in a second round defeat at the World Championship, and he believes sports psychology has played a crucial role in his return to winning ways.

“I’ve always been a bit uncertain when it comes to sports psychology,” admitted the Antwerp ace.

“I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do for me.

“I thought it was probably my last choice if I wanted to get stronger, but I thought let’s give it a go, and right here right now, I really feel that I made the right choice.”

The Belgian number one opened his campaign with victory over Brendan Dolan on Friday, before overcoming 2007 runner-up Vincent van der Voort and Welsh star Jonny Clayton to reach the last eight.

Van den Bergh then saw off Martin Lukeman and Damon Heta on Finals Day, winning nine of the last 11 legs to set up a showdown against Humphries.

The Belgian raced into a 4-1 lead with a 103 average at the first interval, with a clinical 124 finish on the bull in leg two helping him to establish early daylight.

The 29-year-old stretched his advantage to 7-2 after maintaining his ruthlessness on the outer ring, although Humphries responded with back-to-back legs to threaten a fightback.

Van den Bergh restored his four-leg buffer with a brilliant 130 checkout in leg 12, defying six perfect darts from the world number one to move 8-4 ahead.

Humphries looked to be staring down the barrel, but he came back off the canvas with a run of four straight legs to level proceedings, aided by a clutch 116 combination in leg 15.

The pendulum swung once more as Van den Bergh converted clinical 97 and 76 finishes to move to the cusp of victory at 10-8, although the drama didn’t end there.

The Belgian frittered away six match darts across the next two legs as Humphries profited to force a 21st and deciding leg, before carving out two championship darts of his own.

However, the World Champion was unable to complete the fightback, and Van den Bergh capitalised, producing a nerveless two-dart 64 combination to secure his fourth PDC ranking title.

Humphries, meanwhile, fell agonisingly short in his bid for a maiden UK Open success, which brought an end to his remarkable 24-match winning run in televised ranking events.

The 2021 runner-up conceded just 18 legs in advancing to Sunday’s showpiece, producing a trio of ton-topping averages in the process.

The world number one defied ten 180s from Dirk van Duijvenbode to triumph in a high-quality fourth round tie, and he continued his progress with emphatic wins over Benjamin Drue Reus and Mervyn King on Saturday.

Humphries then stormed past Stephen Bunting and Ricky Evans on Finals Day, averaging 102 to demolish Masters champion Bunting, before sweeping aside Evans 11-2 in the semi-finals.

“I didn’t play well in the final, but I gave everything,” reflected the Newbury ace, who walked away with the £50,000 runner-up prize.

“I was very fortunate to get two match darts at the end there, and obviously I am gutted, but Dimitri played a good game and hit a couple of big shots at the right time.

“The crowd were amazing towards me, so I owed it to them to give it everything, and I’m really proud of the way I played again this weekend.”

Earlier in the day, Heta prevailed in one of the greatest matches ever seen on the UK Open stage, celebrating a memorable 10-8 success against teenage sensation Luke Littler.

An astonishing start to proceedings saw Heta trailing 4-3 with a 122 average, but the Australian’s relentless brilliance eventually powered him through to a maiden televised ranking semi-final.

Evans also broke new ground in Minehead, claiming the scalp of 2018 World Champion Rob Cross in the quarter-finals to advance to his first big stage semi-final, which catapults him towards the cusp of the world's top 40.

UK Open: Draw and round-by-round results

FINAL (Best of 21 legs)

• Dimitri Van den Bergh 11-10 Luke Humphries

SEMI-FINALS (Best of 21 legs)

• Luke Humphries 11-2 Ricky Evans
• Dimitri Van den Bergh 11-6 Damon Heta

QUARTER-FINALS (Best of 19 legs)

• Stephen Bunting 2-10 Luke Humphries
• Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-5 Martin Lukeman
• Damon Heta 10-8 Luke Littler
• Ricky Evans 10-7 Rob Cross

SIXTH ROUND (Best of 19 legs)

• Peter Wright 9-10 Stephen Bunting
• Mervyn King 4-10 Luke Humphries
• Jonny Clayton 7-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh
• Damon Heta 10-8 Gian van Veen
• Ricky Evans 10-6 Luke Woodhouse
• Martin Lukeman 10-5 Gary Anderson
• Rob Cross 10-4 Keane Barry
• Luke Littler 10-5 Dave Chisnall

FIFTH ROUND (Best of 19 legs)

• Gary Anderson 10-5 Chris Dobey
• Luke Littler 10-8 Martin Schindler
• Damon Heta 10-9 Nathan Aspinall
• Benjamin Reus 3-10 Luke Humphries
• Jonny Clayton 10-8 Ross Smith
• Rob Cross 10-4 Josh Rock
• Stephen Bunting 10-9 Kevin Doets
• Peter Wright 10-1 Andrew Gilding
• Ricky Evans 10-5 Mike De Decker
• Michael Smith 9-10 Luke Woodhouse
• Dave Chisnall 10-6 Mensur Suljovic
• Vincent van der Voort 6-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh
• Graham Usher 7-10 Gian van Veen
• Martin Lukeman 10-9 Danny Noppert
• Keane Barry 10-3 Ryan Meikle
• Krzysztof Ratajski 9-10 Mervyn King
  

FOURTH ROUND (Best of 19 legs)

The fourth round features the world's top 32 and the winners of round three.

• Andrew Gilding 10-7 Josh Payne
• Mensur Suljovic 10-7 Michael van Gerwen
• Luke Littler 10-7 James Wade
• Luke Humphries 10-7 Dirk van Duijvenbode
• Danny Noppert 10-8 Gabriel Clemens
• Michael Smith 10-7 Joe Cullen
• Damon Heta 10-8 Simon Whitlock
• Martin Schindler 10-9 Gerwyn Price
• Graham Usher 10-9 Ryan Searle
• Kevin Doets 10-6 Daniel Klose
• Ross Smith 10-8 Daryl Gurney
• Nathan Aspinall 10-6 Scott Mitchell
• Ryan Meikle 10-6 Brett Claydon
• Benjamin Reus 10-7 Jose de Sousa
• Chris Dobey 10-3 Mickey Mansell
• Stephen Bunting 10-3 Danny Lauby
• Ricky Evans 10-4 Scott Williams
• Keane Barry 10-6 Kim Huybrechts
• Rob Cross 10-3 Rowby-John Rodriguez
• Gary Anderson 10-5 Cameron Menzies
• Luke Woodhouse 10-9 Raymond van Barneveld
• Jonny Clayton 10-9 Tim Wolters
• Martin Lukeman 10-5 Leonard Gates
• Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-8 Brendan Dolan
• Gian van Veen 10-7 Florian Hempel
• Mike De Decker 10-6 Richard Veenstra
• Dave Chisnall 10-4 Nick Kenny
• Krzysztof Ratajski 10-4 Adam Gawlas
• Peter Wright 10-3 Joshua Richardson
• Josh Rock 10-5 Patrick Geeraets
• Mervyn King 10-3 Ricardo Pietreczko
• Vincent van der Voort 10-5 Boris Krcmar

THIRD ROUND (Best of 11 legs)

Round three features the winners from round two along with Tour Card Holders 33-64.

• Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Madars Razma (R3)
• Steve Beaton 5-6 Josh Payne (R3)
• Jim Williams 2-6 Leonard Gates (R3)
• Martin Lukeman 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena (R3)
• Simon Whitlock 6-5 Maik Kuivenhoven (R3)
• Gian van Veen 6-3 John Henderson (R3)
• Thibault Tricole 3-6 Cameron Menzies (R3)
• Boris Krcmar 6-1 Ritchie Edhouse (R3)
• Nick Kenny 6-5 Matt Campbell (R3)
• Brett Claydon 6-4 Alan Soutar (R3)
• Ricky Evans 6-3 Lee Evans (R3)
• Graham Usher 6-3 Ronny Huybrechts (R3)
• Mickey Mansell 6-4 Ian White (R3)
• Ryan Meilke 6-3 Geert Nentjes (R3)
• Mario Vandenbogaerde 2-6 Florian Hempel (R3)
• Jeffrey De Zwaan 1-6 Patrick Geeraets (R3)
• Mensur Suljovic 6-0 William O'Connor (R3)
• Kevin Doets 6-5 Robert Owen (R3)
• Mike De Decker 6-3 Wessel Nijman (R3)
• Wesley Plaisier 3-6 Daniel Klose (R3)
• Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Dylan Slevin (R3)
• Keane Barry 6-4 Joe Croft (R3)
• Adam Gawlas 6-0 Jarred Cole (R3)
• Tim Wolters 6-4 Ryan Joyce (R3)
• Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Christian Perez (R3)
• Mervyn King 6-4 George Killington (R3)
• Benjamin Reus 6-5 Callan Rydz (R3)
• Ricardo Pietreczko 6-3 Michael Taylor (R3)
• Richard Veenstra 6-1 Owen Roelofs (R3)
• Joshua Richardson 6-5 Jamie Hughes (R3)
• Danny Lauby 6-2 Jacques Labre (R3)
• Matthew Dennant 5-6 Scott Mitchell (R3)

SECOND ROUND (Best of 11 legs)

Round contains the winners from round one along with Tour Card Holders 65-96.

• Christian Perez 6-2 Jeffrey Sparidaans (R2)
• Jacques Labre 6-4 Steve Lennon (R2)
• Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Jurjen van der Velde (R2)
• Thibault Tricole 6-5 Bradley Brooks (R2)
• Geert Nentjes 6-3 Pascal Rupprecht (R2)
• Robert Owen 6-3 Karel Sedlacek (R2)
• Brett Claydon 6-4 Andy Baetens (R2)
• Leonard Gates 6-3 Rhys Griffin (R2)
• Owen Roelofs 6-1 Stephen Burton (R2)
• Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-3 Johnny Haines (R2)
• Josh Payne 6-5 Ron Meulenkamp (R2)
• Benjamin Reus 6-3 Tom Lonsdale (R2)
• Daniel Klose 6-3 Adam Warner (R2)
• Ronny Huybrechts 6-2 Harry Lane (R2)
• Wessel Nijman 6-4 Niels Zonneveld (R2)
• Scott Mitchell 6-4 Darren Beveridge (R2)
• Nick Kenny 6-2 Callum Goffin (R2)
• Joe Croft 6-2 James Hurrell (R2)
• Lee Evans 6-0 Chris Landman (R2)
• John Henderson 6-5 Dom Taylor (R2)
• Patrick Geeraets 6-4 Adam Smith-Neale (R2)
• George Killington 6-5 Robbie Knops (R2)
• Joshua Richardson 6-2 Keegan Brown (R2)
• Danny Lauby 6-5 Jack Male (R2)
• Maik Kuivenhoven 6-2 Berry van Peer (R2)
• Matthew Dennant 6-1 Danny van Trijp (R2)
• Jarred Cole 6-5 Robert Grundy (R2)
• Wesley Plaisier 6-2 Haupai Puha (R2)
• Dylan Slevin 6-4 Arron Monk (R2)
• Michael Taylor 6-2 Graham Hall (R2)
• Graham Usher 6-5 Owen Bates (R2)
• Tim Wolters 6-3 Jenson Walker (R2)

FIRST ROUND (Best of 11 legs)

The first round of the multi-board event features Tour Card Holders 97-127 along with 16 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers and 16 players from the Challenge tour and Development Tour

• Jacques Labre Bye
• Christian Kist 3-6 Patrick Geeraets
• Matthew Dennant 6-4 Jeffrey de Graaf
• Conan Whitehead 4-6 Leonard Gates
• Dom Taylor 6-5 Brandon Western
• Lukas Wenig 4-6 Tom Lonsdale
• Jarred Cole Bye
• Leighton Bennett 4-6 Scott Mitchell
• Danny Lauby 6-3 Nathan Rafferty
• Kevin Burness 4-6 John Henderson
• Owen Bates 6-5 Andy Boulton
• Connor Scutt 5-6 Wesley Plaisier
• Jules van Dongen 5-6 Thibault Tricole
• Jack Male 6-5 Martin Dragt
• Ashley Coleman 3-6 Tim Wolters
• Brett Claydon 6-4 Thomas Lovely
• Bradly Roes 4-6 Benjamin Reus
• Haupai Puha 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
• Jitse van der Wal 3-6 Johnny Haines
• Sebastian Bialecki 4-6 Jenson Walker
• Bradley Brooks 6-3 Cam Crabtree
• Paul Krohne 5-6 Michael Taylor
• Christopher Toonders 3-6 Chris Landman
• George Killington 6-4 Radek Szaganski
• Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 1-6 Ron Meulenkamp
• Harry Gregory 5-6 Rhys Griffin
• Joe Croft 6-5 William Borland
• Jason Hogg 4-6 Darren Beveridge
• Harry Lane 6-3 Dominik Gruellich
• Darryl Pilgrim 5-6 Joshua Richardson
• Michele Turetta 3-6 Robert Grundy
• David Sumner 3-6 Wessel Nijman

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