Dobey Claims Second Title of 2026 as Humphries' Struggles Persist

Luke Humphries' recent slump continued with a disappointing exit in the last 16 at the Players Championship 9 in Wigan, while Chris Dobey dominated the competition to secure his second title of the year. Humphries' loss to Andrew Gilding came just four days after a quarter-final defeat to Jonny Clayton, further jeopardizing his chances of reaching the Premier League finals. Gilding's impressive run included a 6-3 win over Beau Greaves, who made history by becoming the first woman to reach a PDC ProTour quarter-final. However, Gilding's campaign ultimately ended with a 7-1 semi-final loss to Dobey, who went on to defeat Justin Hood 8-4 in the final, claiming the £15,000 prize. Dobey's victory was marked by a remarkable comeback, as he overcame a 2-0 deficit to win six of the next seven legs. The 35-year-old from Northumberland consistently produced high averages throughout the tournament, including a 105.28 average in the final. 'I'm hoping to pick up more titles, it's hard to win just one, so to win ten is a great feeling,' said Dobey. 'He put up a good fight, but I played some good stuff all day, and I'm delighted with another win.' Dobey now sets his sights on TV and European Tour titles, aiming to maintain his consistency. The tournament also saw a notable nine-darter from Thomas Lovely in his round three defeat to Luke Woodhouse. The road to the final included notable wins from Tom Bissell, Connor Scutt, and Justin Hood, but ultimately, Dobey's exceptional performance secured his second title of the year.