Chisnall wins in Budapest for a hat-trick of European Tour titles

In a breathtaking Hungarian Darts Trophy final on Sunday, Dave Chisnall overcame a magnificent nine-darter from Luke Humphries to win his third European Tour championship of 2023.

To finish off a fantastic weekend of action, Chisnall—who earlier this year also defeated Humphries in European Tour deciders at the Baltic Sea Darts Open and Dutch Darts Championship—completed the hat-trick in Budapest.

The first nine-darter on the European Tour since Chisnall’s flawless leg at the Belgian Darts Open last year, Humphries moved 7-5 up in the MVM Dome and appeared headed for victory.

To win the £30,000 top prize, Chisnall fought back valiantly, reeling off the final three legs without a hitch and surviving a match dart in an amazing finish.

“I would love to play Luke in every final! He is a phenomenal dart player,” reflected Chisnall, who has now won six European Tour titles in five different countries.

“I’m so happy to win the tournament, but full credit to Luke. He’s been playing with an injury all day.

“I threw everything at him and he just kept fighting back. I couldn’t get rid of him! It was a fantastic final.”

“I always fancy my chances to win a TV title,” added Chisnall, who missed double 12 for a nine-darter of his own earlier in the evening.“I’ve missed lots of opportunities [in the past] and you can’t do that at this level, but I’m going to carry on and keep believing. I will win one!”

Top seed Following a convincing victory over Rowby-John Rodriguez to start Finals Day, Chisnall overcame Michael van Gerwen’s high average in a thrilling quarterfinal match.

Chisnall then defeated Scott Williams, a surprise contender, in a thrilling semifinal by nailing six 180s and average nearly 101 to set up a matchup with Humphries.

Humphries scored the game’s opening point in the championship match on Sunday with a magnificent 170 checkout, his second of the night. He then seized on his good start to go up 3-1.

Chisnall came back to tie the game at three apiece with back-to-back 12-darters, and he kept up his impressive form with a 146 checkout in leg nine to move up 5-4.

After levelling the score at five all, Humphries enjoyed a brilliant run of his own. He then followed a 12-darter break on the bull with a roof-raising nine-darter to put himself on the verge of victory.

Once more, the pendulum swung as Chisnall won back-to-back legs to force a decider. He then sealed the victory with a double 16, but only after Humphries had missed a double 12 for yet another remarkable 141 finish.

In spite of suffering from a back spasm, Humphries managed to compete in his sixth European Tour final of 2023 and put on a series of outstanding performances in the Hungarian capital.

The 28-year-old destroyed Keane Barry on Saturday, averaging 108, and he started Sunday’s action with another devastating performance, averaging 106 to defeat Martin Schindler 6-1.

Humphries defeated Luke Woodhouse with another ton-plus average in the round of 8, then beat Gerwyn Price in the semifinals with an average of 103 and seven 180s.

“If you had told me this morning that I would have got to the final I wouldn’t have believed you,” conceded Humphries, who has remarkably featured in 10 of the last 20 European Tour finals.

“I need to give credit to myself because I really battled hard today. If that dart at double 12 had gone in, this probably would have been one of the greatest games I’ve ever played.“I had the 170, the nine-darter. I gave it everything and although tiredness was creeping in, I still put up a great fight with five ton-plus averages this weekend.“I just could not shake Chizzy off. What a player he is. If he finds this form on a TV stage he will win one, and he’s a player that deserves to win one.”

2023 Hungarian Darts Trophy

Sunday September 24

Afternoon Session Third Round

Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Peter Wright

Luke Humphries 6-1 Martin Schindler

Gerwyn Price 6-4 Joe Cullen

Damon Heta 6-4 Gian van Veen

Mike De Decker 6-2 Michael Smith

Scott Williams 6-5 Danny Noppert

Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Jonny Clayton

Dave Chisnall 6-1 Rowby-John Rodriguez

 

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals

Luke Humphries 6-0 Luke Woodhouse

Gerwyn Price 6-5 Damon Heta

Scott Williams 6-5 Mike De Decker

Dave Chisnall 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

 

Semi-Finals

Luke Humphries 7-4 Gerwyn Price

Dave Chisnall 7-5 Scott Williams

 

Final

Dave Chisnall 8-7 Luke Humphries