Luke Humphries beats Luke Littler to join Josh Rock in quarterfinals at Swiss Darts Trophy

Luke Humphries has advanced to the last eight at the Swiss Darts Trophy at the expense of Luke Littler. In a replay of the World Championship final, 'Cool Hand Luke' prevailed 6-3.

It was already the 12th time the English have faced off in 2024. Of course, Humphries won the first and most important showdown, the one in the World final in January. After that, Littler had already had his fill several times, as after eleven encounters the head-to-head was 8-3 in Littler's favour.

Neither man started the match that well, but it was Humphries who took the first two legs to himself with an 18-darter and a 17-darter. The level then went up. Littler threw out 80 and 68 and tied the score after four legs. Littler then held his own throw with a 14-darter, before Humphries also produced a 14-darter to level at 3-3. An important seventh leg then came. Humphries missed three break chances, but Littler also missed five chances to keep his own throw. Humphries' fourth break opportunity was successful and the reigning world champion went on to, with a 14-darter, make it 5-3. Humphries then hit another 14-darter to secure the win.

In the quarterfinals, Josh Rock will be Humphries' next opponent. 'Rocky' won 6-4 against Rob Cross in a high quality match. Last week Rock and Cross also met in the third round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy and also then the Northern Irishman won 6-4.

Cross still managed to hold his first two legs of his own, while Rock produced another 12-darter in between. In the fourth leg, 'Rocky' threw another 12-darter, making it 2-2. Rock then provided the first break of the match with a 67 finish, before holding his own leg for the third time in the match with a 12-darter.

In the seventh leg, Cross halved the deficit by throwing out 72, but Rock then brought the margin to a two-leg difference with a 13-darter. Cross kept himself in the match with a 14-darter, but that turned out to be a stay of execution. Rock secured victory in the tenth leg with a double 12.