A crowd of 18,000 spectators witnessed an unforgettable weekend of darts at the Lecot Belgian Darts Open. Inside the legendary Oktoberhallen, Luke Humphries secured his ninth PDC European Tour title.
In a thrilling final that went down to the wire, Humphries allowed Jonny Clayton a brief sniff of a comeback before ultimately closing out the match 8-6. This victory marks his first-ever championship on Belgian soil – a particularly sweet triumph after his 2023 final defeat to Michael van Gerwen at the same venue. With this win, the reigning Premier League champion moves level with Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright on the all-time title list. Only Michael van Gerwen holds more trophies, with a total of 38.”It’s been a pretty turbulent weekend for various reasons, but I got the job done. This is a massive boost for my season – and my aura,” a relieved Humphries said after his tournament victory.
Belgian Celebrations: Huybrechts and Baetens Deliver
The weekend wasn’t just about Humphries; local fans had plenty to cheer for. Host Nation Qualifiers Kim Huybrechts and Andy Baetens both reached the final day, fueling the electric atmosphere in what is widely considered the loudest venue on the European Tour. Notably, this marked Andy Baetens’ first-ever appearance in a PDC tournament quarter-final.
Pure Drama: Six of Eight Matches Go to a Decider
Anyone hoping for a relaxed Sunday afternoon was quickly proven wrong. The first four matches of the final day all went to a deciding leg. In total, six of the eight matches during the afternoon session were decided only in the very last leg.
Among these was the Round of 16 clash involving Niels Zonneveld, who knocked out the defending champion and two-time tournament winner, Luke Littler. The Dutchman continued his stellar European Tour season, following up his semi-final appearance at last week’s ELTEN Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy.
Gurney’s Record Average Not Enough
The most unusual story of the weekend belonged to Daryl Gurney. On his 40th birthday, the Northern Irishman faced Michael van Gerwen in the Round of 16 and delivered a historic performance despite a 5-6 loss. With an average of 109.73, “Superchin” set the record for the highest losing average in the tournament’s history, which also stood as the highest average of the entire weekend. A bittersweet gift for his milestone birthday.
Haavisto’s Fairytale Comeback
Eleven years and eleven months – that is how long Jani Haavisto waited for his return to the European Tour. The Finn fought his way through the Nordic & Baltic Qualifier to secure his spot in Wieze. While “The Finnisher” stood no chance in his opening match against Niels Zonneveld, his mere presence provided one of the most heartwarming stories of Friday’s action.
Next Stop: Munich
The PDC European Tour shows no signs of slowing down. In keeping with tradition, the tour heads to the ELTEN Safety Shoes German Darts Grand Prix over the Easter weekend (April 4th – 6th). Tickets for the next highlight of the season are available HERE.
