Dobey Claims Second Title of 2026 as Humphries' Struggles Persist

Luke Humphries' slump continues after a disappointing last-16 exit 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 has put his Premier League finals hopes in doubt, just days after his quarter-final defeat to Jonny Clayton. Meanwhile, Dobey's impressive run saw him thrash Luke Woodhouse and Richard Veenstra before overcoming Justin Hood 8-4 in the final to claim the £15,000 prize. The 35-year-old from Northumberland fought back from a slow start, winning six of the next seven legs to take control of the decider. Dobey's consistent performance, including a 105.28 average in the final, was enough to see off Hood's spirited challenge. "My goal now is to pick up more titles and perform well on TV and in European Tour events," said Dobey. "I know I have the ability, it's just about maintaining consistency." The tournament also witnessed a nine-darter by Thomas Lovely in his round three defeat to Woodhouse. With this win, Dobey is looking to build on his momentum and make a strong push in the Premier League Darts, where Humphries will be defending his title.