That last leg felt like a turning point.

But this one might be another. Van den Bergh misses a double for 9-4 and Luke Humphries breaks throw with double 10. He's still in this.

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC

Outrageous.

Humphries was on a nine-darter in that leg - but has lost it.

DVDB hits two treble 20s and double five for a stunning, potentially decisive, 130 finish.

Two straight 180s to start leg 12 for Cool Hand... he couldn't, could he?

No... no nine-darter, but he's in good shape to close within two legs.

Or is he?

If Luke Humphries was trying to motivate himself, it might have worked.

A 180 puts pressure on the Van den Bergh throw at the start of mini-session three - and he follows with a 134.

It all gives him a checkout chance on 48 - he usually likes it down there in the 16 bed and, yep, he takes it out.

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC

A 180 followed by a 140 gives Van den Bergh another break chance on 104.

He can't quite take it and Humphries checks out 52 by the unusual route of single five, single 15 and double 16, to keep himself in the final, clinging on by the skin of his teeth.

Big fist pump follows that double. He's trying to pump himself up.

Dimitri Van den Bergh is doing to Luke Humphries what the world number one usually does to others.

Playing very solid darts and punishing mistakes. And he's hitting his doubles - if he misses one, he gets the next, just like in leg nine, landing double eight after a miss on double 16.

He only needs four legs for the title, time running out for Humphries.

Dimitri Van den Bergh thinks he can smell a double break - but Luke Humphries clatters in a vitally-timed 180.

However, he can't finish 57, missing two darts at doubles - and DVDB punishes it with single 16, double 16 to take out 48 and claim that double break.

Luke Humphries unable to get much of a chance on the Van den Bergh throw though.

He might have had a sniff after the Belgian wastes two darts at double eight - but DVDB lands the third.

Exactly the sort of start Luke Humphries would have wanted to make to the second mini-session.

Double 10 ends a 15-dart leg for a comfortable hold of throw.

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC

It's been very noticeable that Dimitri Van den Bergh has been frequently talking to himself on the stage during the early stages of this final.

He said he's been working with a sports psychologist and maybe he's doing some positive thinking exercises up there?

Whatever he's doing, it's working. World number one Luke Humphries has work of his own to do to get back into this.

Dimitri Van den Bergh is dominating in the scoring stakes.

Ton after ton.

It means he can afford more missed darts at doubles - before nailing double six to surge into a 4-1 advantage at the mini-break.

Not many would have expected it to take the world champ four legs to get on the board.

Huge pressure on Luke Humphries as Van den Bergh smashes in a 180 to leave 28 with the world number one on 32.

But he shakes that pressure off, first dart bang in.

Delicious darts from Dimitri, who hits 177 to set up a chance for a 91 finish.

He misses two attempts at tops but Luke Humphries is miles back on the scoreboard - the Belgian can even afford three more poor darts before finally taking out double eight.

Stuart Pyke
Commentator on ITV4

He felt he should have won the first leg and he's just been knocked out of his stride here, has Luke Humphries.

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC

Luke Humphries has his name embroidered on his collar.

That is a level of sartorial superiority most of us can only dream of.

Speaking of dreams, the Dream Maker is Dimitri Van den Bergh's nickname - and he lands a bullseye finish to break the Humphries throw and move his own dreams a bit closer to fruition.

Luke Humphries misses several darts at double to break Van den Bergh in the opener - and is absolutely fuming with himself.

The Belgian takes advantage of the let-off to land double 16.

A 140 from both players to kick off the final, which, like the semis, is best of 21 legs.

Like he did in the semi-final earlier, Dimitri Van den Bergh makes the most of his walk-on, posing for pictures and chatting with fans.

World champ Luke Humphries has some kisses for friends and family.

It's almost time.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on ITV4

It is astonishing what Luke Humphries has achieved - when you win that maiden major title, pressure comes with it. People expect and you can go into your shell.

But he's embraced it - it's given him the confidence to kick on.

He's got all the attributes - he's the blueprint for any young player out there. He's used the Development Tour, the Challenge Tour, winning on the Pro Tour, the European Tour and getting up to major level.

And since he's won that first major, the rest has followed. When he's not at his best he finds a way to win and when he gets in front he doesn't get complacent.

He's the complete player and he could dominate darts - even if he won't admit it [in interviews] I think deep down he believes he can.

Luke Humphries has established himself at the very top of his sport during a dominant past six months.

His World Grand Prix success in October, Humphries' first PDC major, opened the floodgates for plenty more - including a first World Championship win at the start of 2024.

After comfortable victories against Stephen Bunting and Ricky Evans today, the Englishman is one more win away from adding the UK Open to his growing list of titles.

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC