Luke Humphries took his fourth Pro Tour title of the season in Leicester, as he defeated Niels Zonneveld 8-4 in the final of Players Championship 33 at Mattioli Arena.
Humphries had won three times previously this season on the Pro Tour, but the last two weeks had been trying ones for the World number two, with food poisoning ruling him out of the recent European Championship, but he bounced back to form and fitness with a superb win in the East Midlands.
Humphries began with a 6-2 win against Archie Self, and he followed that by back-to-back whitewashes, clocking a 106.09 average in blasting past Darius Labanauskas, and 109.98 to bulldoze Tom Bissell in making the last 16.
There, a near 97 average was too good for Steve Lennon, as ‘Cool Hand’ took a 6-2 win, and he repeated that feat to get past Gerwyn Price in the quarter finals. Price’s run confirmed his Players Championship Finals place, and Gary Anderson gave his hopes of Minehead a massive boost with a run to the semi-finals, his run only ended by the irresistible Humphries, who defied an average of over 106 from the Scot, averaging over 104 himself to make the final.
Dutch Darts Championship winner Zonneveld banked three straight 6-4 wins, first against Ritchie Edhouse, backed up by a 107.14 average in defeating Jack Aldridge, before he ended Justin Hood’s hopes in the last 32.
‘Triple Z’ then eased past Jeffrey de Zwaan, and another 6-4 win put paid to Dirk van Duijvenbode, and he made it a hat-trick of wins against Dutchmen to make the final, a 63 finish clinching a 7-5 win against Michael van Gerwen.
Humphries held a firm 3-1 early lead, despite a 104 finish from his opponent in leg two, and punished a miss at double 18 from Zonneveld to keep the gap at two legs at 5-3.
Humphries broke throw to lead 6-3, but key misses allowed Zonneveld to break back immediately, only for Humphries to take a leg where both missed multiple darts at double to take a 7-4 advantage.
He would then race to the finish line, an 85 finish confirming an 11-darter, an end average of 103.77, and the £15,000 first prize.
“The way I’ve been the last few weeks, it’s an unexpected win for myself,” said Humphries.
“It was more about coming back and seeing what my energy levels were like, because I’ve been very ill the past few weeks.
“I’d never miss a major if I could play. I was devastated. I was on a good run after winning the World Grand Prix.
“Four Players Championship wins, a Euro Tour, the World Grand Prix, a win on the World Series, I’ve done some good things this year. I think my yearly average is better than it’s ever been.
“I still want to win another major. If it’s not the Grand Slam or Players Championship Finals, then I want it to be the World Championship.
“That’s the thing I really search for now, is to try and put my name in the legacy of some of the greatest there has ever been. I am far away from that yet, so I need to try and win a lot more.”
Elsewhere, perfection was landed on the Pro Tour once again, with Tommy Lishman finding a nine-dart leg to win his first round tie with David Sharp.
Raymond van Barneveld breathed new life into a bid for the PDC World Championship, as he made the quarter finals with a string of good wins against Adam Lipscombe, Ricky Evans, Daryl Gurney and Tyler Thorpe.
The final Players Championship event of the season takes place on Thursday, with the 64-player field for the Players Championship decided.
2026 Players Championship 33
Wednesday November 4
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Last 16
Gary Anderson 6-4 Wessel Nijman
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Tyler Thorpe
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Humphries 6-2 Steve Lennon
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Ross Smith
Niels Zonneveld 6-1 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Tommy Morris
Danny Noppert 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Humphries 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Danny Noppert
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 7-4 Gary Anderson
Niels Zonneveld 7-5 Michael van Gerwen
Final
Luke Humphries 8-4 Niels Zonneveld
