Luke Littler marked his return to the European Tour in spectacular fashion this past weekend, storming through the field to claim the Czech Darts Open title with an 8-6 victory over his nearest rival, Luke Humphries, in Prague. The World Champion was on a mission to secure his place at the European Championship in Dortmund, and the win appears to have achieved exactly that goal.
“It was a good game,” Littler reflected. “This is what the fans are in for – me and Luke are back! The two best [players] going at it in a final once again. I’m glad I’ve won.” The rivalry between Littler and Humphries has become one of the biggest storylines in darts, but they hadn't faced off recently due to various reasons, including Humphries hitting top gear when Littler wasn't competing. In Prague, however, fans were treated to a duel between the sport's leading lights.
The final was anything but an easy task for the teenager. Humphries, who won the title in Prague last year, was determined to defend his crown, but Littler kept his composure and eventually prevailed 8-6. For Littler, the victory marked a perfect comeback on the European Tour after a period away, immediately showing why he belongs among the absolute world elite.
The victory carried extra significance for Littler, not just for lifting another trophy but also for taking an important step towards his next goal: the European Championship in Dortmund. “It’s good to be back and I’m back with a bang! These long days are worth it, especially lifting the trophy,” he said. Having made it clear beforehand that qualifying for Dortmund was a key target, Littler could breathe a sigh of relief after Prague. “I think I’ve secured my place in Dortmund – Dortmund is the one I’m chasing!”
With his success in Prague, Littler appears to have found his form at exactly the right time, and the crowd was once again treated to the clash that so many darts fans had been waiting for: Littler against Humphries.
