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 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. You think: ‘You haven’t played for a long time, can you still do it?” admitted Humphries, who now boasts nine PDC ranking titles on his growing résumé.
“I didn’t really practice much in the last six or seven weeks. I felt like Gary Anderson!
“I’ve learnt a few things with my time off though. I think at times I get too annoyed with myself. I just want to let my talent shine and see what happens.
“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.
“I still have targets though. 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 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.
Humphries continued from where he left off to race into a 3-0 lead against Doets, only for the Dutchman to level with three straight legs of his own – including a 120 checkout in leg six.
World number six Humphries restored his buffer with a 13-dart break to lead 5-3, but Doets again responded, following up a 115 kill in leg nine with a superb 12-darter to restore parity at six apiece.
However, Humphries then converted a brilliant tops-tops 100 finish to move a leg away from victory at 7-6, before wrapping up his second Players Championship title of 2023 with a timely 13-darter.
2023 Players Championship 20
Last 16
- Kevin Doets 6-5 Ross Smith
- Gabriel Clemens 6-5 Cameron Menzies
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-0 Jules van Dongen
- Mike De Decker 6-4 Danny Noppert
- Callan Rydz 6-3 Florian Hempel
- Rob Cross 6-5 Stephen Bunting
- Luke Humphries 6-4 Ryan Searle
- Michael Smith 6-3 Josh Rock
Quarter-finals
- Kevin Doets 6-1 Gabriel Clemens
- Mike De Decker 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
- Callan Rydz 6-5 Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries 6-2 Michael Smith
Semi-finals
- Kevin Doets 7-5 Mike De Decker
- Luke Humphries 7-1 Callan Rydz
Final
- Luke Humphries 8-6 Kevin Doets
Fast Results
Scores
