Can Defending Champion Humphries Overcome Struggles to Reach Premier League Top Four?

Defending Premier League champion Luke Humphries is in danger of missing out on the top four and failing to qualify for the Play-Offs at London's O2 on May 28. Currently seventh in the Premier League table with 11 points after 10 weeks, Humphries is still searching for his first nightly victory. A 6-5 defeat to leader Jonny Clayton in Brighton last week, where Clayton finished with a bullseye to edge a last-leg decider, was followed by a last-16 exit at the Player Championship 9 in Wigan. Humphries faces an uphill task as he takes on home favourite Gian van Veen in Rotterdam on Thursday. With time running out, Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy discussed Humphries' chances on the Love The Darts podcast. "Luke isn't dominating like he used to," said Bridge. "He's getting his life back on track, and I don't think missing the top four would devastate him like it would have a couple of years ago." Humphries has six more nights to gain enough points to reach the Play-Off spots, with Michael van Gerwen currently occupying fourth spot on 16 points - five points ahead of Humphries. Commentator Murphy believes Humphries can still turn his season around, saying, "I don't think it's complete panic stations yet, but he is running out of time and needs to get that nightly win." Humphries remains unconcerned about his title defence, claiming he doesn't feel the pressure of defending. "You're not thinking about it every week you're playing in it," said the 31-year-old. "I think my average this year in the Premier League has been the best it has ever been." The BetMGM Premier League moves to Rotterdam, where Dutch No 1 Gian van Veen will host Luke Humphries on his first Premier League night on home soil.