Dimitri van den Bergh has won his second PDC major title with a thrilling 11-10 victory over Luke Humphries to secure the UK Open title in Minehead.
The Belgian went into the semi-finals with most people fancying either world number Humphries or Damon Heta, who defeated Luke Littler on Sunday afternoon, to lift the trophy.
Instead, the 29-year-old impressively disposed of Heta by a 11-6 scoreline in the last four before overcoming Humphries, somehow holding his nerve having initially missed six Championship darts.
VAN DEN BERGH IS THE CHAMPION! 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 3, 2024
Dimitri Van den Bergh wins the 2024 Ladbrokes UK Open!
One of the most dramatic endings you will ever see!
📺 https://t.co/D7iTWZMSbj#UKOpenDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/y1TQ5rqPnU
Van den Bergh dominated the first half of the final, leading 4-1 and 7-3 at the opening two intervals, but Humphries had got back to an 8-7 deficit come the next break.
Having already taken out checkouts of 124 and 130 earlier in the match, Van den Bergh finished 97 and 76 to move one away from the title, but he unusually took an extended break before the 19th leg in an effort to calm his nerves.
That upset the crowd, who got behind Humphries, and the momentum was with the Englishman as Van den Bergh missed five darts for the match as Humphries capitalised and levelled the contest.
Another dart went begging for Van den Bergh before Humphries missed two of his own, allowing his opponent to return to take out double top for the second biggest victory of his career after the 2020 World Matchplay and to move up to seventh place in the PDC Order of Merit.
Ricky Evans was the other losing semi-finalist, going down 11-2 to Humphries, but he has the consolation of moving up to 41st position in the world rankings.
Darren Plant
