“This is what the fans are in for – me and Luke are back!”

That was the 19-year-old Littler on the microphone at PVA EXPO on Sunday, moments after finishing on double 10 to seal the Czech Open in his first tournament back on the European Tour after a six-month absence.

The world No. 1 had walked into a final loaded with subtext. Humphries had reached the last three finals in Prague and won every one of them, losing just once in 23 previous matches at the venue, Sky Sports reported. Littler broke the streak instead, taking his 30th PDC title of a season that shows no sign of slowing down and denying Humphries a fourth consecutive Czech Open crown.

D16 turns the final

Littler moved 2-0 ahead, was pegged back to trail 4-3, then reeled off four legs in a row to lead 7-4. Humphries hauled it back to 7-6 with a break of throw, only to miss two darts at double 16 that would have forced a decider.

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Littler’s tournament average of 95.25 edged Humphries’ 94.81. His 106.64 average in a 7-3 semifinal blitz of Michael van Gerwen had already flagged that the rust was gone.

“It’s good to be back and I’m back with a bang,” Littler said after collecting the £35,000 winner’s cheque.

Humphries: ‘I’ve got to change things’

Humphries did not hide from the assessment.

“I can’t be upset. The two darts I threw at D16 were right on the wire and if that goes in, it could have been a different game,” he told Sky Sports.

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“He’s a fantastic player. I’ve been playing here and there, not so great.”

“I keep saying I’m not beating him in finals so I’ve got to change things to keep matching him.”

The world No. 2 is now chasing a rival who has moved well clear at the top of the PDC Order of Merit with £3,125,500 in ranking prize money, more than three times Humphries’ £1,015,500.

Amsterdam and Dortmund next

The Prague result guarantees Littler a place at the European Championship at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund in October, the ranking event he made clear is his next target.

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“I think I’ve secured my place in Dortmund. That’s obviously the one I’m chasing,” he said.

Before Dortmund comes the World Series of Darts Finals at AFAS Live in Amsterdam, which begins on 17 September.

“In two weeks time it’s the World Series in Amsterdam,” Littler said. “We’ll have to see what happens, what the plan is and how busy I am.”

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