Rob Cross staged an impressive comeback to defeat world number one Luke Humphries 8-6, clinching the Baltic Sea Darts Open title in Kiel, Germany.
Humphries had showcased his prowess with a remarkable nine-dart finish, propelling him to a 5-3 lead. However, Cross mounted a spirited rally, securing five of the next six legs to secure his second PDC European Tour championship.
The defeat marked Humphries’ second consecutive runner-up finish at the event, despite his strong performances throughout. His journey to the final included a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Ross Smith in the third round, followed by notable wins against Michael van Gerwen (6-3) in the quarter-finals and Danny Noppert (7-4) in the semi-finals.
Cross navigated his path to the final by overcoming Stephen Bunting (6-5) in the third round, followed by a tense victory against Ritchie Edhouse by the same scoreline. He booked his spot in the final with a solid 7-4 triumph over Madars Razma.
Meanwhile, Luke Littler, who had previously secured three out of the five European Tour events this season, experienced an early exit following a defeat to Dutchman Wessel Nijman on the tournament’s opening day.
