Luke Humphries roared back to form, securing the Players Championship 4 title in Wigan. He overcame a strong challenge from Wessel Nijman in the final and defeated fellow Premier League stars Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price on his path to victory. This win marks a significant statement from ‘Cool Hand Luke’. However, the tournament also witnessed a dramatic shift in the darting world, as two-time World Champion Peter Wright shockingly dropped out of the world’s top 32 rankings for the first time since 2011, highlighting a major shake-up in the sport’s elite.
Humphries’ Dominant Return to the Winner’s Circle
Luke Humphries, who had previously considered limiting his Players Championship appearances, proved his decision to play was a wise one. After a nail-biting start, requiring a decisive 14-darter to defeat Martijn Dragt 6-5, Humphries found his stride.
- He comfortably beat German player Marvin Kraft 6-2, consistently hitting three-figure averages from this point onwards.
- Victories followed against Luke Woodhouse and Premier League colleague Stephen Bunting, both secured with 6-3 scorelines.
- Humphries showcased his peak form with a 108.53 average in his 6-2 win over Niels Zonneveld.
- A hard-fought 7-4 semi-final victory against another Premier League rival, Gerwyn Price, set the stage for the final.
In the final against the in-form Wessel Nijman, Humphries delivered a masterclass, sealing the match 8-6. A crucial sequence saw him fire off three 12-darters within four legs to take control and secure the title, along with the £15,000 top prize.
Nijman’s Impressive Run Continues
Wessel Nijman continued his remarkable consistency on the PDC Pro Tour floor. His journey to the final included several standout performances:
- A dominant 6-1 win over Yorick Hofkens in the opening round.
- An exceptional 107 average in his Last 16 victory against Marvin van Velzen.
- Clutch wins in deciding legs against Cor Dekker and Daryl Gurney in the earlier rounds.
- A convincing 7-3 semi-final triumph over Callan Rydz.
Nijman’s consistent deep runs are establishing him as a significant force in floor tournaments.
Peter Wright’s Shocking Drop from the Top 32
The biggest talking point of the tournament, other than Humphries’ win, was the significant decline of darts icon Peter Wright. After another early exit, ‘Snakebite’ officially fell out of the world’s top 32 rankings. This marks the first time since 2011 that Wright has not been among the world’s elite 32 players. His recent form has been a cause for concern, and this ranking drop underscores a challenging period for the two-time World Champion. Furthermore, Michael Smith, currently at world number 32, is now precariously close to suffering a similar fate after a disappointing first-round exit himself.
Other Notable Performances and Early Exits
The event saw mixed fortunes for many players:
- Raymond van Barneveld struggled once again, failing to hit an average above 80 points, raising questions about his season’s prospects.
- Established names like James Wade and Dirk van Duijvenbode also suffered surprisingly weak early exits.
- Yesterday’s winner, Chris Dobey, was defeated in the second round by Mervyn King.
German-Speaking Players Make Headway
For German players, this Players Championship block offered some positive signs:
- Arno Merk and Leon Weber both reached the third round for the first time this year, securing their initial victories of the season.
- Merk notably fought back from a cold start to win 6-3 against Tytus Kanik, then won a tight 6-4 against Max Hopp before Daryl Gurney proved too strong.
- Weber comfortably beat Cameron Menzies 6-0, followed by an improved 6-3 performance against Jeffrey de Graaf, including a crucial 10-darter. He eventually lost to Kim Huybrechts.
- Other German players like Lukas Wenig, Pascal Rupprecht, Marvin Kraft, Gabriel Clemens, and Max Hopp managed to reach the second round, showing glimpses of potential despite ultimately falling short.
Tournament Structure and Viewing
Players Championship events are crucial components of the PDC Pro Tour, offering significant prize money and ranking points. The prize money breakdown for this event was:
- Winner: £15,000
- Runner-Up: £10,000
- Semi-Finalists: £6,500
- Quarter-Finalists: £4,000
- Last 16: £3,000
- Last 32: £2,000
- Last 64: £1,250
- Total Prize Fund: £150,000
Matches were played in a best-of-legs format:
- Up to the Quarter-Finals: Best of 11 Legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 13 Legs
- Final: Best of 15 Legs
These Pro Tour tournaments are not broadcast on traditional television. However, fans can follow the action via the official PDC Livestream, PDC.TV, which typically covers four boards (one with German commentary). Additionally, all matches from every board can be tracked in real-time through the Dartconnect live scorer, providing comprehensive coverage for enthusiasts.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
