Rob Cross clinches maiden European Tour title at the European Darts Grand Prix
Rob Cross ended his wait for a first European Tour title with victory at the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, defeating Luke Humphries 8-6 in the final.
Two-time European Champion Cross had remarkably lost in each of his previous seven European Tour finals, but he broke his duck at the Glaspalast to scoop the £30,000 top prize.
Humphries defeated Cross in three Euro Tour finals in 2022 – including last year’s European Grand Prix – and the pair locked horns again to determine who would represent England alongside Michael Smith at next month’s World Cup of Darts.
Cross arrived in Sindelfingen with a £17,500 lead over Humphries on the PDC Order of Merit, meaning Humphries had to retain the title if he was to secure a debut in the Pairs event.
However, Cross produced a clinical display to claim the spoils in Sindelfingen, defying a 104 average from Humphries to secure a second title in the space of eight days.
“I’m just so glad that I’ve won a European Tour title. I’ve been striving to win one of these for six years,” said Cross – a winner at Players Championship 11 last Saturday.
“I’ve got that monkey off my back now. I’ve been playing well for a little while, so I can move forward now.
“I’m playing some of the best darts I’ve ever played. I’m also probably the happiest I’ve been in life for quite a while, and that’s really important for me. I’m in a really good place.
“I’m happy to be at the World Cup. I wanted to be there, but so did Luke, so commiserations to him. What a player he is. He’s quality.”
Cross kicked off Sunday’s run with a 6-3 victory over Scottish veteran Ross Montgomery, before converting two ton-plus finishes to account for Krzysztof Ratajski in the Quarter-Finals.
He then overcame Ross Smith in a battle of the European Champions, averaging 101 to celebrate a 7-4 success and reach the final.
The opening four legs of the final went with throw, before Cross struck the first blow courtesy of a magnificent ten-dart break in leg five.
Humphries converted a two-dart 86 combination for an instant riposte in leg six, only for Cross to regain the initiative in leg nine, courtesy of a 100 checkout.
The former World Champion extended his lead to 6-4 in a crucial tenth leg which saw Humphries squander three darts at double to level at five apiece, and this proved decisive.
Humphries preserved his hopes with 11 and 13-dart holds to reduce the arrears to 6-7, but Cross sealed the deal with a nerveless 72 finish on double 18, after Humphries had missed the bull for a 167 skin saver.
“It hurts. I’m devastated, but I will bounce back,” said Humphries, who has now lost in four European Tour finals this season.
“This is probably one of the toughest defeats of my career. There is no other player who wants to put on that England shirt more than me.
“I’m trying my best to win these tournaments. There was a lot on the line there and I showed a lot of bottle to give it a good go, but fair play to Rob, it was a fantastic performance from him.”
Humphries opened Sunday’s action with a 6-2 win over five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, before averaging 109 to defeat Gian van Veen in an epic Quarter-Final encounter.
The 28-year-old continued his charge with a hard-fought win over Australia’s number one Damon Heta in the Semi-Finals, closing out a 7-5 success.
Australia’s World Cup winner Heta – a European Tour winner in Gibraltar last year – claimed deciding-leg wins over Joe Cullen and Martin Schindler to reach a second straight European Tour semi-final.
Meanwhile, Smith saw off Daryl Gurney and then won through an extraordinary Quarter-Final tie against Nathan Aspinall, which saw the Stockport star miss double 12 for a nine-darter in the decider before squandering a further four match darts and watching ‘Smudger’ take out 107 to snatch victory.
Home favourite Schindler followed up a Second Round win over his compatriot Gabriel Clemens with an impressive last-leg scalp of Gerwyn Price.
Dutch youngster Van Veen continued his emergence to reach a maiden Euro Tour Quarter-Final, defeating World Youth Champion Josh Rock 6-3 before averaging 106 in defeat to Humphries.
European Darts Grand Prix 2023 Day Three Results
Sunday May 28
Afternoon Session
Last 16
Luke Humphries 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Gian van Veen 6-3 Josh Rock
Damon Heta 6-5 Joe Cullen
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Martin Schindler
Daryl Gurney 4-6 Ross Smith
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Madars Razma
Dave Chisnall 1-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Rob Cross 6-3 Ross Montgomery
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries 6-4 Gian van Veen
Damon Heta 6-5 Martin Schindler
Ross Smith 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Krzysztof Ratajski 4-6 Rob Cross
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 7-5 Damon Heta
Ross Smith 4-7 Rob Cross
Final
Rob Cross 8-6 Luke Humphries
Prize Fund
Winner: £30,000
Runner-up: £12,000
Semi-Final losers: £8,500
Quarter-Final losers: £6,000
Last 16 losers: £4,000
Second Round losers: £2,500
First Round losers: £1,250
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