Dobey Dominates Players Championship as Humphries' Struggles Persist

Luke Humphries' recent slump continued with a disappointing last-16 exit at the Players Championship 9 in Wigan, where Chris Dobey claimed his second title of 2026 with an impressive victory. Just four days after a quarter-final loss to Jonny Clayton, Humphries was unable to bounce back, falling 6-4 to Andrew Gilding. Gilding then defeated Beau Greaves 6-3, following her historic wins over Raymond van Barneveld and Premier League leader Clayton, which made her the first woman to reach a ProTour quarter-final. However, Gilding's run ended in the semi-finals with a 7-1 loss to eventual champion Dobey, who dominated the competition, including a 6-1 win over Luke Woodhouse and a 6-3 victory over Richard Veenstra in the quarter-finals, before overcoming Justin Hood 8-4 in the final to secure the £15,000 prize. Dobey, who consistently achieved high averages throughout the tournament, including a 105.28 average in the final, expressed his hope to build on this success, stating, 'The way I've been playing this year, I'm hoping to pick up more titles.' A notable moment from the event was Thomas Lovely's nine-darter in his round three loss to Woodhouse. The road to the final saw several notable matches, including the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, all of which showcased the competitive spirit of the Players Championship. As the darts season progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling matches, including the Premier League Darts, which can be streamed on NOW.