Humphries Beats Rock To Retain Czech Open Title

World number 1 Luke Humphries defended his Czech Open title arsenic he hit Josh Rock 8-5 successful nan final.

Rock, who had beaten Michael van Gerwen en way to nan final, sewage an early break of propulsion to spell 2-0 up but England's Humphries collapsed backmost and past reeled disconnected a 12-dart limb to level astatine 3-3.

The brace past traded legs to scope 5-5 earlier Humphries won nan adjacent 3 legs connected nan rotation against nan Northern Irishman.

Humphries sealed triumph pinch a objective last limb astatine nan PVA Expo successful Prague to clasp nan title he won a twelvemonth agone and declare nan £30,000 apical prize.

The 30-year-old's three-dart mean of 93.89 was marginally little than Rock's 94.1 but his checkout percent (34.8% versus 26.3%) was superior.

Humphries has now won nan tourney 3 times successful 4 years pursuing his victories successful 2022 and 2024 arsenic he earned nan eighth PDC European Tour title of his career.

"If it were up to me, I'd person each 14 European Tours held here. You don't triumph 3 times successful nan aforesaid spot by mishap and it's intelligibly typical to me," Humphries said.

"Since winning nan Premier League, nan past 3 months person been tough. I've struggled astatine times, and I felt for illustration I dragged Josh down astatine nan commencement of nan game. But I ne'er springiness successful - I ever effort to find a way."

World champion Luke Littler was earlier knocked retired successful nan 3rd round, suffering a astonishment 6-4 conclusion by Dutchman Gian van Veen.