Luke Humphries denied Wessel Nijman a second Players Championship title of 2026, as the former World Champion defeated the Dutchman 8-6 to claim his first ranking title of the year in Wigan.
Humphries – who was without a Players Championship title since October 2024 – claimed his first title of the year with a dazzling display of darts, reaffirming his status as one of the premier players in world darts. The world number two scooped the £15,000 top prize with an average of 104 against Nijman – his sixth ton-plus average of the day.
The Englishman trailed early, as Nijman took a two-leg lead with back-to-back legs, before Humphries leveled at 2-2. Nijman pulled ahead with three five-visit legs, but Humphries fired back, winning four straight in 12, 12, 14, and 12 darts for a 7-5 edge. He then closed with a sharp 13-dart finish for his fifth win over Nijman.
“Except for that first game, I thought I was really good today,” reflected Humphries, who recorded a tournament average of 102.19. “I’ve had some really, really tough games to play today. A couple of really tough ones early on, and then Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price; these are Premier League players. I missed a few doubles today, but I’m really pleased with myself and feeling really good about my game. I feel elated! For me, these are big. It gives me a lot of confidence because it’s the first tournament I’ve won in a long time. I think my son will be watching me at home. He loves watching on the screen, I’m sure he will be very happy as well! There’s going to be a lot of graft this year, but if I keep playing like that then the rewards will come.”
Humphries started strong, beating Martijn Dragt in a decider, then averaged 103+ over Marvin Kraft and Luke Woodhouse. He downed Stephen Bunting, averaged 108 in a 6-2 rout of Niels Zonneveld, and edged Gerwyn Price 7-4 with another 100+ average.
Nijman notched ton-plus marks early, whitewashing Marvin van Velzen at 107, and beating Ryan Meikle, Cor Dekker, Daryl Gurney, and Callan Rydz before the final heartbreak.
Source: PDC.TV
