Dave Chisnall defied a spectacular nine-darter from Luke Humphries to claim his third European Tour title of 2023 in an astonishing Hungarian Darts Trophy final on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Chisnall – who also denied Humphries in European Tour deciders at the Baltic Sea Darts Open and Dutch Darts Championship earlier this year – completed the hat-trick in Budapest to cap off a thrilling weekend of action.<\/p>\n
Humphries looked poised to triumph at the MVM Dome after moving 7-5 ahead with his first big stage nine-darter \u2013 the first on the European Tour since Chisnall\u2019s perfect leg at last year\u2019s Belgian Darts Open.<\/p>\n
However, Chisnall fought back brilliantly, reeling off the last three legs without reply and surviving a match dart in an extraordinary finale to pocket the \u00a330,000 top prize with a 104.82 average.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would love to play Luke in every final! He is a phenomenal dart player,\u201d reflected Chisnall, who has now won six European Tour titles in five different countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so happy to win the tournament, but full credit to Luke. He\u2019s been playing with an injury all day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI threw everything at him and he just kept fighting back. I couldn\u2019t get rid of him! It was a fantastic final.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chisnall\u2019s victory in Budapest has seen him establish a \u00a320,000 lead over Humphries at the top of the European Tour Order of Merit, with just one event remaining in Hildesheim next month.<\/p>\n
The 43-year-old looks set be the top seed at October\u2019s European Championship in Dortmund, as he continues his bid for an elusive televised title over the coming months.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always fancy my chances to win a TV title,\u201d added Chisnall, who missed double 12 for a nine-darter of his own earlier in the evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve missed lots of opportunities [in the past] and you can\u2019t do that at this level, but I\u2019m going to carry on and keep believing. I will win one!\u201d<\/p>\n
Top seed Chisnall began Finals Day with a thumping win over Rowby-John Rodriguez, before defying a ton-plus average from Michael van Gerwen to prevail in a compelling quarter-final tie.<\/p>\n
Chisnall then thwarted a late fightback from surprise package Scott Williams to win a dramatic semi-final, landing six 180s and averaging almost 101 to set up a showdown against Humphries.<\/p>\n
Humphries drew first blood in Sunday\u2019s showpiece with a majestic 170 checkout \u2013 his second of the evening \u2013 and he capitalised on his strong start to move into a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n
Chisnall responded with back-to-back 12-darters to level at three apiece, and he continued his blistering form with a 146 checkout in leg nine to edge 5-4 ahead.<\/p>\n
Humphries then enjoyed a sparkling spell of his own, restoring parity at five apiece before following up a 12-dart break on the bull with his roof-raising nine-darter to move to the cusp of victory.<\/p>\n
The pendulum swung yet again as Chisnall won consecutive legs to force a decider, and he sealed the deal via double 16, but only after Humphries had missed double 12 for another incredible 141 finish.<\/p>\n
Humphries had battled through the pain of a back spasm to feature in his sixth European Tour final of 2023, producing a string of sensational performances in the Hungarian capital.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old averaged 108 in his demolition of Keane Barry on Saturday, and he kicked off Sunday\u2019s action with another devastating display, averaging 106 to sweep aside Martin Schindler 6-1.<\/p>\n
Humphries posted another ton-plus average to whitewash Luke Woodhouse in the last eight, before averaging 103 and landing seven 180s in his semi-final success against Gerwyn Price.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you had told me this morning that I would have got to the final I wouldn\u2019t have believed you,\u201d conceded Humphries, who has remarkably featured in 10 of the last 20 European Tour finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to give credit to myself because I really battled hard today. If that dart at double 12 had gone in, this probably would have been one of the greatest games I\u2019ve ever played.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the 170, the nine-darter. I gave it everything and although tiredness was creeping in, I still put up a great fight with five ton-plus averages this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just could not shake Chizzy off. What a player he is. If he finds this form on a TV stage he will win one, and he\u2019s a player that deserves to win one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite losing out to Humphries in a high-quality last four tussle, Price impressed in his run to the semi-finals, overcoming Joe Cullen and Damon Heta at the MVM Dome.<\/p>\n
The Welshman converted all six of his attempts at double to see off reigning champion Cullen in the last 16, and he then fought back from 5-1 down to stun Heta in a thrilling quarter-final tussle.<\/p>\n
Price was joined in the semi-finals by Williams, who recorded deciding-leg wins over Danny Noppert and Mike De Decker to celebrate his best showing on the European Tour stage.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Woodhouse\u2019 run to a maiden European Tour quarter-final was enough to secure his place in the upcoming World Grand Prix, at the expense of Gian van Veen.<\/p>\n
Dutch prospect Van Veen was in the provisional qualification places ahead of Sunday\u2019s action, but his last 16 defeat against Heta saw him miss out on a double-start debut.<\/p>\n
Heta then suffered a dramatic quarter-final exit, bowing out at the same stage as Van Gerwen and Mike De Decker, who dumped out World Champion Michael Smith earlier in the afternoon.<\/p>\n