Dominant Humphries returns from lay-off with impressive Players’ Championship title
Luke Humphries claimed his third PDC ranking title of 2023 with victory in Monday’s Players Championship 20, overcoming Dutchman Kevin Doets to triumph in Barnsley.
Humphries becomes the fourth player to win multiple Players Championship titles in 2023, defeating an impressive Doets 8-6 in Monday’s showpiece to scoop the £12,000 top prize.
Prior to this week, Humphries, who became a father for the first time last October, had not featured competitively since reaching July’s World Matchplay semi-finals, although he returned to winning ways in sensational style at the Barnsley Metrodome.
The former UK Open runner-up kicked off his campaign with a nine-dart finish in his opening round win over Andy Boulton, which set the tone for a day of darting domination.
“It is strange but you doubt yourself,” Humphries, who now boasts nine PDC ranking titles, said.
“You think: ‘You haven’t played for a long time, can you still do it?’”
“I didn’t really practice much in the last six or seven weeks. I felt like Gary Anderson!
“If I get to number one in the world one day, so be it.
“If I lose my tour card in five to ten years, it is what it is, but my greatest achievement is my family, and that is what matters.
“The next target for me is to win a TV title; it’s the next thing I have to tick off the list.
“I still want to be involved in the Premier League too. I really want to play against the best, just be a part of it and the exposure that comes with it.”
Humphries, who won four European Tour events last year, averaged above 99 in each of his first six matches, following up his nine-dart exploits against Boulton with consecutive 6-4 wins against Jim Williams and Scott Williams respectively.
The 28-year-old averaged 102 to record a third straight 6-4 victory at the expense of Ryan Searle, before running out an emphatic 6-2 winner against world number one Michael Smith in the last eight.
The Newbury ace then saved his best performance for the semi-finals, averaging over 107 to thrash Sunday’s champion Callan Rydz 7-1, aided by two 180s and a 116 checkout.
World-number-six Humphries then raced into a 3-0 lead against Doets before wrapping up his second Players Championship title of 2023 with a timely 13-dart finish.