Dobey Secures Second Title of 2026 as Humphries' Struggles Persist

Luke Humphries' form woes deepened with a disappointing last-16 exit at the Players Championship 9 in Wigan, while Chris Dobey claimed his second title of the year. Humphries, still reeling from a quarter-final loss to Jonny Clayton just four days prior, failed to bounce back as he suffered a 6-4 defeat at the hands of Andrew Gilding. Meanwhile, history was made as 22-year-old Beau Greaves became the first woman to reach a ProTour quarter-final, beating Raymond van Barneveld and Premier League leader Clayton before falling to Gilding. Dobey, who had earlier thrashed Luke Woodhouse and overcome Richard Veenstra, went on to trounce Gilding 7-1 in the semi-finals. In the final, Dobey came from behind to beat Justin Hood 8-4, claiming the £15,000 prize. The Northumberland native, who consistently posted ton-plus averages throughout the tournament, eventually took control of the decider, winning six of the last seven legs. With a 105.28 average in the final, Dobey outshone Hood's 102.91, showcasing his dominance. "My goal is to pick up more titles, and I believe I can do it if I maintain my current form," said Dobey, who now has his sights set on European Tour titles and TV success. A notable highlight from the event was Thomas Lovely's nine-darter in his round three loss to Woodhouse. The competition also saw strong performances from other players, including Tom Bissell, Connor Scutt, and Tom Sykes, who all secured last-16 wins. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were equally intense, with Dobey ultimately emerging victorious. With the Premier League Darts action heating up, fans can catch all the excitement every Thursday on Sky Sports, with Luke Humphries set to defend his title.