Luke Humphries joins distinguished catalogue of names after tasting glory again on the European Tour

After clinching success in the Czech Darts Open, Luke Humphries has cemented his name among the greatest players on the European Tour, becoming the fifth player to win eight or more titles.

It may not have been the prettiest title win, but it was one created from pure grit and determination from the world number one, riding his luck at times among periods of uncharacteristicly sloppy darts. Despite this, he managed to overcome a stacked field in Prague, which included Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, to win his third title in Czechia, coming out on top against Josh Rock 8-5 in the final.

This is his eighth triumph on the European Tour. His first came back in a prolific 2022 season, where he burst onto the scene with four titles. His first came at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, whitewashing van Gerwen in the semi-finals with a 107 average before defeating Martin Lukeman in the final.

He followed that up with his first of a trio of titles in Prague, as well as more success in Germany, specifically the European Darts Grand Prix and the European Darts Matchplay. He had chances to replicate that success in 2023, but despite making six finals, he only won one of them, retaining the title he won a year prior in Trier.

Two more titles in Stuttgart and Prague followed in 2024, before carrying on the trend of winning on the European Tour by grabbing his third title in Czechia, now boasting a title four years running in an impressive feat of consistency and class, which deservingly puts his name amongst the best to throw a dart.

There is no surprise that the Green Machine sits top of the list for European Tour titles won. The shocking bit comes when you find out how many he has won, and how far ahead of the chasing pack he is. His first came back in 2013, winning the European Darts Open and the Austrian Open on the bounce. He would back that up with another title the next year in the Dutch Darts Masters.

From 2015-2019, it gets a bit silly. In that time period, 57 events were held. Van Gerwen won 29 of them. This includes 50% of the 2015 events, 60% in 2016, 50% in 2017, and just over 60% in 2018, losing just three finals. In 2019 he triumphed in four of the first five events before coming runner-up in three of the next eight tournaments.

He went a drought between 2020-2021 with a depleted number of tournaments due to COVID-19, but has since won six titles in the previous four years, including one each year. His latest came in the German Darts Grand Prix, defeating his fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen in the final.

Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price, Dave Chisnall and Humphries behind van Gerwen. Snakebite and The Iceman sit in second with nine titles, closely followed by their rivals with eight.

The Scot first tasted glory in 2014, before going two years and four finals empty-handed. He returned with a bang, winning the five titles. He and van Gerwen were the only winners that year on the Tour. He has won three titles since, two in Germany and one in Prague.

Price has got a theme with his victories, with almost all of them coming in Riesa at the International Darts Open. He won back-to-back events in 2017 and 2018. The Welshman stood on the top podium in the Belgium Darts Championships in 2020, before coming out on top in the sole two events in 2021. He won his third competition in Riesa before making it a quadruple of triumphs after his success in the European Darts Open. Earlier this year, he won his ninth title at the Baltic Sea Darts Open. He has only lost in two finals that he has competed in.

Chizzy first found success back in 2013, but had to patiently wait six years and three finals before he finally got a hold of a trophy again in Denmark. After adding a third title in 2022, be became a force to be reckond with in Europe, winning five titles between 2023-2024. However, since his win at the Flanders Darts Trophy, he has made the final session just once.