Humphries Heads Off Littler to Defend Finals Title

Luke Humphries retained the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title on Sunday night in sensational fashion, defeating great rival Luke Littler in a thrilling final in Minehead.

World number one Humphries had scooped his third big-stage title a year ago in the Players Championship Finals, and achieved his ambition of keeping his hands on the trophy to end a memorable event.

Littler, making his Players Championship Finals debut following a stunning first full year on the professional circuit, had continued his outstanding form to reach the final as he sought to follow up his Grand Slam of Darts triumph with successive TV titles.

Littler fired in four ton-plus checkouts during the contest – including finishes of 170 and 164 – but Humphries, proved too strong to wrap up an 11-7 triumph and scoop the £120,000 title.

“I’m really, really proud of that one,” said Humphries. “I didn’t feel myself this week, playing-wise, and I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios.

“But Luke really drives me and makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him.

“Obviously he let me in early and I never looked back. I’m proud of the way I didn’t take my foot off the gas.

“In a lot of games this weekend I’ve taken my foot off the gas and allowed people to come back at me.

“I was very fortunate against Dirk [van Duijvenbode in the semis] but I rode my luck, got into the final and I was in my comfort zone.

“It was a fantastic game again – his finishes were unbelievable and he’s just a special talent.

“These big games are what I live for and what I dream of. I travel the world for these moments and I’m really pleased.”

Humphries had defeated Ryan Joyce and Dirk van Duijvenbode in Sunday’s final stages to reach the decider, where took an immediate break of throw against Littler with a 72 finish.

He doubled his lead to 2-0 before Littler got off the mark, but another three legs saw the World Champion establish a key four-leg cushion.

Littler finished 105 with two double tops as he hit back, and he responded to a Humphries 11-darter with checkouts of 170 and 164 in a three-leg burst of 12, 13 and 12 darts to reduce the arrears to 6-5.

Littler landed two further 12-darters as the pair shared the next four legs – including a 136 checkout – but he was crucially never able to level.

Double 16 from Humphries gave him a 9-7 advantage, and he landed tops in the next two legs – to complete 13- and 14-darters – as he claimed glory for a second successive year.

Littler ended World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker’s hopes of a second big-stage triumph in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals, before edging out former European Champion Ross Smith 11-9 in the semis.

However, he was left to rue a slow start in the final – although the £60,000 in prize money moves him up to fourth on the PDC Order of Merit.

“It was tough – I missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early it’s a lot to come back,” said the 17-year-old.

“Luke took full advantage, so fair play to him. I know I hit the 170 and the 164 but I didn’t have enough in the end.”

Humphries and Littler will now focus on the forthcoming Paddy Power World Darts Championship, which begins on December 15 and sees the pair – who met in last year’s final – as the players to beat at Alexandra Palace.

Both players averaged over 100 in Sunday’s final, and Humphries added: “He’s probably the best player in the world right now, but there’s something about me that never gives up. I know I can beat him and he knows he can beat me.

“Luke has made me a bit hungrier to try a bit harder, practice more, because if no-one sticks with him he’s going to win everything.

“Maybe I’m that guy that can stick with him and have a good run over the next five to ten years.

“I do believe we’re the two best players in the world and I’m going to have to keep working hard to keep up with him.”

Van Duijvenbode’s return to form following a shoulder blade injury continued as he reached his first televised semi-final for two years, edging out Connor Scutt 10-9 in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals.

Smith, meanwhile, raced into the semis with a commanding 10-3 win over Scott Williams in his best run in a TV event since winning the 2022 European Championship.

He came from 5-1 down to lead Littler 6-5 in the last four, but saw the youngster power in two 11-darters as he claimed six of the next nine legs to reach the final.

The Ladbrokes Players Championship marked the culmination of the final ranking event ahead of the World Darts Championship, and had seen the top 64 players from 30 one-day Players Championships competing across three days at Butlin’s Minehead Resort.