Dutch delight as Chisnall wins his second Euro Tour title of 2023 at the Dutch Darts Championship

Dave Chisnall defeated Luke Humphries once more in the Dutch Darts Championship final on Sunday in Leeuwarden to win his second European Tour victory of 2023.

Chisnall won the February Baltic Sea Darts Open final against Humphries and added a second £30,000 prize by taking first place at WTC Expo to earn his fifth victory on the European Tour.

The Morecambe star appeared to be headed for an easy victory in the championship after establishing a three-leg lead from 4-1 with an 11-dart throw break.

When Humphries followed a 12-darter with a break of throw, he managed to overcome two 13-darters from Chisnall and close the gap to just one leg.

However, Chisnall crucially came back to take the lead at 7-5 with a 14-darter before securing the victory with a double ten.

“Luke is not just a great player, he’s a great friend and I’ve got so much respect for him,” said Chisnall, who has now claimed five European Tour wins.

 “You have to play 100 averages to beat him – unfortunately he didn’t play like he did before but I took advantage and hit my doubles.

 “Now, it’s so hard – you have to hit 100 averages to win tournaments. All the players are so good – there are no easy games any more.”

 

Chisnall defeated Josh Rock 6-3 to start Sunday’s Finals Day before outlasting world number two Peter Wright 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

The 42-year-old was up 3-0 in his semifinal matchup with Van Gerwen when the hometown favourite sunk a 170 finish. The home favourite then rallied from 5-2 down to tie the match.

As a result of seven missed match darts, the game ultimately went to a decider leg. Van Gerwen had a chance to swoop in, but he uncharacteristically missed three darts at double six, allowing Chisnall back to secure his place in the decider.

On his way to the final, Humphries overcame the previous two winners of the UK Open, Andrew Gilding and Danny Noppert, and he also overcame Damon Heta’s 170 checkout in a 7-3 success in the semi-final.

“I’ll always take positives – I feel like I put up a good fight,” admitted Humphries. “Apart from Ryan Searle, [Dave] is my best mate on tour, we get along really well, I know his game inside out.

 “Considering he played really well I got close to him, but I’m really disappointed because I played nowhere like I can.

 “I know there’s more European Tour titles in me, but I keep running into a fantastic player and I have to give credit to Chizzy. I’m happy to make the final, gutted not to win but the better man won.”

 

Chisnall, who earlier on Sunday defeated Martin Schindler and Keane Barry, ended Van Gerwen’s attempt to win European Tour glory in his native nation at the semi-final stage.

Along with Barry, Wright, and Stephen Bunting, Noppert, another Dutchman, lost by a razor-thin margin in the quarterfinals.

The Blkläder Belgian Darts Open (ET7) in Wieze, where 48 players will compete in the £175,000 event at the Oktoberhallen, is the next stop on the PDC European Tour from May 5-7.

Results 

Sunday April 30

Afternoon Session

Third Round

Keane Barry 6-5 Ryan Searle

Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Martin Schindler

Peter Wright 6-4 Michael Smith

Dave Chisnall 6-3 Josh Rock

Stephen Bunting 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Damon Heta 6-1 Berry van Peer

Danny Noppert 6-5 Nathan Aspinall

Luke Humphries 6-4 Andrew Gilding

 

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals

Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Keane Barry

Dave Chisnall 6-1 Peter Wright

Damon Heta 6-2 Stephen Bunting

Luke Humphries 6-5 Danny Noppert

 

Semi-Finals

Dave Chisnall 7-6 Michael van Gerwen

Luke Humphries 7-3 Damon Heta 

 

Final

Dave Chisnall 8-5 Luke Humphries