Luke Humphries claimed the title at the 2026 Belgian Darts Open last weekend, defeating Jonny Clayton 8-6 in the final in Wieze. The victory came amid ongoing debate about his form, with former top darter Mark Webster offering insight on Sky Sports. "I don't think there's been a massive drop-off. He just hasn't been clinical enough at the right moments," Webster explained, noting that Humphries is judged by the highest standards despite maintaining impressive scoring power and solid rhythm.
Webster highlighted Humphries' visible frustration in recent weeks, stating, "I haven't liked his body language when he's getting beat but that's just general frustration." However, at the Belgian Darts Open, Humphries delivered a convincing performance to silence doubts. "It was a big win for him this weekend," Webster concluded, emphasizing the significance of the title.
A key factor in Humphries' sharp and determined play was his response to criticism, particularly from influencer Charlie Murphy. "He was fired up, he took some comments personally, but he used them in the right way and it got him success," Webster analyzed. He added, "The best way to respond to criticism is to go out and put a performance in. He was a deserving winner at the weekend. He looked confident and it could be a stepping stone for Luke Humphries."
Despite this European Tour success, Webster pointed out that Humphries is still waiting for his first nightly win in the Premier League Darts this season. "We judge him on high standards, but like I said; I don't think the drop off has been massive," Webster said. "He's not won a Premier League night, but he's won a ProTour, he's won a European Tour. I'm still expecting big things from Luke Humphries this year."
