Darts results: Rob Cross beats Luke Humphries 8-6 to claim European Darts Grand Prix title

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

Darts: Related content

• 2023 Premier League schedule
• 2023 PDC Darts calendar and results
• Troubles and triumphs
• Tournament ideas for darts
• 'What If' moments in darts
• Agony of missed match darts
• Good, Bad, Ugly: Nicholson on darts shirts
• Referees in darts
• Calling the shots in darts
• Weird actions in darts
• Hidden talents in darts
• Superstitions in darts
• Routes to glory
• Paul Nicholson's five darts drills
• Paul Nicholson's five mental tips
• Paul Nicholson's five practice games
• Worst losers in darts
• World number ones in darts
• Best players never to be number one
• Do averages lie?
• Paul Nicholson's Ally Pally tales
• Watch all the Ally Pally nine-darters
• Players everyone hates to face
• Players everyone loves to face
• How to make it as a pro?
• How much money do players earn?
• Greatest darts rivalries
• Rivalries to cherish
• Be canny with counting
• Phil Taylor's greatest display
• World Cup of Great Darts performances
• Sky Bet's darts odds