Belgian Darts Open 2026 Round-up | Luke Humphries holds off charging Clayton to clinch the title in Wieze

Luke Humphries is back in the winning enclosure on the European Tour. He did not look totally convincing on the outer ring throughout the last session in the Belgian Darts Open but his sheer class prevailed as he took down Jonny Clayton 8-6 to clinch the title.

It is not just a first success in the Belgian Darts Open, but a maiden title in Belgium for the world number two who continues his fine form on the Euro Tour, winning a title in every year since 2022.

It was almost a disaster match for Humphries who should have defeated Chris Dobey comfortably but squeezed through with a 6-5 scoreline. The opening stages were firmly on throw. Humphries had five chances to break in the fifth leg but missed all of them. He continued to miss doubles but his scoring was offering him opportunities. He finally got that crucial break and went out into a 5-3 lead. However, he missed a huge number of match darts to get over the line. Dobey somehow found a way back into the match and found himself throwing for the match. Humphries stormed ahead and after another five missed match darts in that game alone, he pinned double three for a hard-fought win despite missing 27 darts at a double.

He would overcome these doubling troubles to an extent to defeat Michael van Gerwen 7-2 in a repeat of the 2023 which went the way of the world number three with Humphries also wiring double 12 for a nine.

No mistakes were made this time. The Dutchman had been averaging over 110 at times this weekend but was not able to produce these numbers in the semi-final. The doubling troubles continued in periods of that match but ‘Mighty Mike’ was not able to capitalise enough. At 2-, Humphries accelerated away. He ended up averaging over 105 while pinning 47% of his doubles in an ominous showing.

Clayton started the evening session with a 6-1 trouncing over the home favourite Andy Baetens, ending any hope the Wieze crowd had from native darters. The Belgian only got darts at a double in two legs, in the first one, which went the way of ‘The Ferret’ for a break, and the sixth one. He found the outer ring but was already 5-1 down at that point. Clayton sealed the deal and comfortably advanced.

The Welshman still was not firing on all cylinders against Niels Zonneveld but still had enough to get past him 6-4. After seven consecutive holds, the Dutchman could not get away from the one segment as Clayton broke to move 5-3 in front. ‘Triple Z’ broke back before Clayton pinned tops to move one away. A match dart was missed by Clayton as Zonneveld forces a last leg decider.

It was a scrappy affair. Both players missed a handful of match darts. It was a tough pill to take for Zonneveld as he came desperately close to a maiden Euro Tour final but the experience and class of Clayton saw him prevail and book his spot in the final in Wieze.

The doubling troubles replicated prior woes for the 2024 world champion. He missed a brace in the first leg to break as Clayton snuck ahead. Humphries responded in fine fashion, pinning double 11 for a 142 checkout.

Another break opportunity would emerge, and after missing tops for a 73 checkout Clayton could not muster up an opportunity of his own. The Englishman nailed double 10 before Clayton missed the bull to break back. Humphries firmly shut the door on double 10.

It was looking like it could be a breeze for Humphries as he found double eight for a fourth leg on the spin. That was raised to five as Humphries continued to turn up the heat, double eight again being his friend.

It had only been 10 minutes and Clayton was firmly in a lot of trouble. He was not only set to lose, but to be on the end of a thrashing. Humphries put more daylight between them with a 130 checkout on double five.

Clayton then produced a bit of quality. After Humphries missed the bull for a 132 checkout, the 2021 Premier League champion took out 126 on that target in the middle of the board with both players seeing the funny side.

Damage limitation was turning edging to the start of a possible comeback as Clayton won a second leg in a row to move 6-3 behind. He had chances to close the gap to only two legs but missed doubles allowed Humphries to see out a 22-dart hold to edge one away from the title.

Clayton prolonged the match for another leg. He would break back in the next leg but that was aided by Humphries missing four match darts and a bit of quality by himself to take out 78 in two. Clayton then streaked ahead on his throw to close the gap to 7-6. It was not to be as match dart number six flew into the double 10 segment as a relieved Humphries got over the line in Wieze to end a stressful but productive evening session. It was filled with brilliant and sketchy darts, but overall class from one of the best players in the world.