Can Defending Champion Humphries Recover to Make the Premier League Top Four?

Defending Premier League champion Luke Humphries is at risk of missing out on the top four and failing to qualify for the Play-Offs, scheduled to take place at London's O2 on May 28. Currently seventh in the Premier League table with 11 points after 10 weeks, Humphries is still seeking his first nightly victory. His recent 6-5 defeat to leader Jonny Clayton in Brighton, where Clayton finished with a bullseye to win a last-leg decider, has added to the pressure. Additionally, Humphries suffered a last-16 exit at the Player Championship 9 in Wigan, where Chris Dobey won his second title of 2026. Humphries' situation is not about to get easier, as he faces home favorite Gian van Veen in Rotterdam. With time running out for 'Cool Hand' to build momentum and push towards the Play-Off places, Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy discussed his chances on the Love The Darts podcast. Bridge noted, 'Luke isn't running away with things anymore. He's getting his life back a bit because he's going to Aintree and Cheltenham, so I don't think things are getting to him like they used to.' Bridge believes Humphries will attempt to go on a run but won't be devastated if he fails to make the top four, a sentiment he wouldn't have shared a couple of years ago. After Rotterdam, Humphries has six more nights to accumulate 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 stated, 'I don't know what the problem is because something does seem slightly off, but out of all the players that are out of the Play-Offs at the moment, I would say he's the one who could go on and win back-to-back nights and catapult himself into those places.' Humphries, who recently won his ninth career European Tour title at the Belgian Darts Open, remains unconcerned about his title defense, saying he 'doesn't really feel the pressure of defending.' He believes his average in the Premier League this year has been the best it has ever been but acknowledges that his timing has been off and opponents have been playing better against him. The BetMGM Premier League continues in Rotterdam, where Dutch No 1 Gian van Veen hosts Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen faces Jonny Clayton. With ranking points awarded per night, the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 28.