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

As the Premier League season progresses, defending champion Luke Humphries is facing an uphill battle to secure a top-four spot and a place in the Play-Offs at London's O2 on May 28. Currently sitting seventh in the table with 11 points after 10 weeks, Humphries is still searching for his first nightly victory. A recent 6-5 defeat to leader Jonny Clayton in Brighton has added to the pressure, and a last-16 exit at the Player Championship 9 in Wigan has done little to boost his confidence. With a tough schedule ahead, including a match against home favourite Gian van Veen in Rotterdam, Humphries will need to regain his form quickly if he is to have any chance of defending his title. Commentators Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy have weighed in on his chances, with Bridge suggesting that Humphries is no longer under the same pressure as he once was, while Murphy believes that the champion still has the ability to go on a winning streak and catapult himself into the top four. With seven more nights to gain enough points to reach the Play-Off spots, Humphries remains optimistic, claiming that he doesn't feel the pressure of defending his title and is focused on putting in big performances to try and win one or two nights and get himself back into contention.