Humphries Claims Belgian Darts Open Title as Littler’s Winning Streak Ends

Luke Humphries secured his first stage title since September by defeating Jonny Clayton 8-6 in the final of the Belgian Darts Open on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The victory came as a surprise to some, silencing critics and marking a return to form for the world number two.

Humphries’ Road to Victory

Humphries demonstrated impressive form throughout the day, overcoming Jermaine Wattimena 6-1 in the initial round. He then navigated a close match against Chris Dobey, winning 6-5 despite struggling with his doubles. A dominant performance followed against Michael van Gerwen, with Humphries winning 7-2 and achieving a 105.96 average, highlighted by a 129 checkout. This set up the final clash against Clayton.

The final saw Clayton take an early lead, but Humphries responded strongly, winning six consecutive legs to establish a commanding 6-1 advantage. Despite a fightback from Clayton, including a phenomenal 126 checkout, Humphries closed out the match with a 13-dart leg.

“It’s one of those things where I feel my game’s been there, then it’s not, then it is. My scoring is good but my doubles are not and I put myself under pressure,” Humphries admitted after the win. He acknowledged Clayton’s resilience, stating, “Jonny is one of the most underrated darts players in the world. He’s always there and you can’t shake him off.”

Littler’s Shock Defeat

The tournament also saw a significant upset as Luke Littler’s 12-match winning streak at the Belgian Darts Open came to an end. He suffered a 6-5 defeat to Niels Zonneveld in the third round. Zonneveld sealed the victory with a remarkable 147 checkout in the deciding leg.

Despite averaging over 103 and producing finishes of 122 and 136, Littler was unable to overcome Zonneveld’s comeback from 3-1 down. Zonneveld expressed his relief and satisfaction, stating, “It was more tricky than I thought before the match…I showed some really good nerve there. I’m so happy.”

European Tour Standings and Upcoming Events

With this win, Luke Humphries now has nine European Tour titles, placing him second behind Michael van Gerwen’s 38 titles. Price and Wright are tied for third with nine titles each, followed by Chisnall with eight.

The Winamax European Tour will continue with the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich from April 4-6. Van Gerwen will aim for a second consecutive triumph in Munich, even as Humphries will look to carry his momentum forward.

Premier League Darts – Berlin Awaits

Night Eight of the BetMGM Premier League will take place in Berlin on Thursday, March 26. Fixtures include Jonny Clayton versus Josh Rock, Luke Humphries versus Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler versus Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price versus Gian van Veen.

The Premier League Darts season continues every Thursday, culminating in the final where Luke Humphries will defend his title.