Luke Littler closed the gap on Luke Humphries at the top of the PDC ranking of the eligibility after a final dramatic victory over Josh Rock in the Flands Cup final in Belgium.
Watch Litler off Damon Hita in the final leg resolution, and he gave Daryl Gurny 7-1 to reserve a confrontation against Rock, who beat Stephen Poning and James Wadi on his way to the final in Antwerp XPOB.
The confrontation was a repetition of half of the half-Matchplay Betfred World in Blackboul last month, where Littler won a return victory, as “The Nuke” had to come from behind again to demand 8-7 victory and score the title of the fourth European PDC round.
Litler recovered from being 5-2 to the child’s harsh from five from the next six legs to move 7-6 against rocks, only for the Northern Irish response by nammer 161 to exit on Bullseye to take a final absorption to a decision.
Rock was thrown at the final shooting, but he quickly succeeded to Littleer, who spread the ninth maximum of the match before getting 96 in a double 18 to extract victory with 11 countries.
“I think I started well, but it is clear that I wasn’t hurry there,” Littler said. “Treble 20s timing, cover shots, both the marital walked well.
“When Josh reached 161, it was not a good feeling. Then I knew that I had to break the game and win the game. It might seem crazy but I love another decision in the leg!
Victory is the second victory in the European PDC round for Littler for the year and the fourth of his career, and three coming in Belgium, with a prize of 300,000 pounds that transmits less than 250,000 pounds behind Humphrez based on the entitlement order PDC.
Littler has already won the World Championship, UK Open, World Matchplay and two PDC World Series titles in 2025, with opportunities to reach the coming months to replace Humphries as one 1 before defending the title at Alexandra Palace.
“He is not official in the number 1 world, but it will be close and for this reason he is the world champion,” Rock said after his narrow loss. “He knows how to win the matches.
“I am always very difficult for myself, but perhaps I should have done it better. If I went to the final leg decision with the world champion, you have to give everything, but fortunately I didn’t do it.”
What next?
The European PDC tour is heading to Prague for the open car, starting on Friday, before the Jack Kazino World series is held from the arrows finals the following week in Amsterdam.
Live Darts returned to Sky Sports from 6 to 12 October, when the Boylesports World Grand race is held in Leicester. Did you get the sky? Arrows flow and more without a contract.
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