Rob Cross is the champion (Picture: PDC Europe)
Rob Cross is the champion (Picture: PDC Europe)

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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