Luke Humphries clinched his third Players Championship crown of the season by defeating Brendan Dolan 8-6 in the final of PC28, held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The win not only added another trophy to Humphries' résumé but also saw him reclaim the world No. 2 spot in the PDC Order of Merit, overtaking Gian van Veen during the day's action. The final was a tightly contested affair.
Humphries, who had been working his way back into form after a surprising early exit at the World Matchplay in July, displayed a blend of clinical finishing and steady scoring to edge past Dolan. The Irishman, however, put up a fierce fight, keeping the match within reach until the very end. In the end, Humphries' experience in floor events shone through, allowing him to secure the title – his first Players Championship win since PC17 in May, also staged at the same venue.
Dolan's route to the final was impressive in its own right. He had earlier dispatched Luke Littler 7-4 in the semi‑final, thwarting the world No. 1's hopes of a blockbuster showdown with Humphries.
Littler, who entered the tournament fresh from a quarter‑final loss to Jermaine Wattimena in PC27, was eager to keep his historic clean‑sweep ambitions alive. The 2026 season has seen Littler dominate every major PDC event – the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay – and he still has the World Series, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals to add to his haul.
Littler's performance in Leicester, though falling short of the title, demonstrated his continued hunger. He opened his campaign with a 6-4 win over Stephen Rosney, survived six match darts against world No.
107 Benjamin Pratnemer in a nail‑biting decider, and then cruised through quick victories over Martin Schindler, Andy Boulton and Krzysztof Ratajski to reach the last four. Ultimately, Dolan proved too strong, ending Littler's run. For Littler, the stakes are high. Having missed the first 26 Players Championship events of the year, he is now scrambling to break into the top 64 of the Order of Merit – the cutoff for qualification to the finals in Minehead in November.
After his quarter‑final and semi‑final appearances in Leicester, he sits 125th, a £16,750 gap from the safety zone. With six more Players Championship tournaments remaining, Littler must not only compete but excel in each to close the deficit and keep his clean‑sweep dream viable. Humphries' resurgence has been equally noteworthy.
After a 6-3 loss to Cam Crabtree in the opening round of the Leicester event, he went on a winning streak, taking all seven of his subsequent matches. This marks his ninth floor event of the year, yet he already boasts three titles – PC4, PC17 and now PC28.
His consistent performances have placed him 13th in the Order of Merit with £52,000 in earnings, effectively guaranteeing his place at the Minehead finals. Speaking after his triumph, Humphries was candid about his recent preparation.
"Honestly, it sounds crazy to be one of the best players in the world when I was just here for a bit of practice," he said. "I hadn't played a match‑play event in two months, so I needed to get back into the rhythm. I didn't want to jump straight into the Euro Tour without any warm‑up.
Once you get into the later stages, you just tell yourself, 'Okay, you can win this now.'" He admitted he hadn't expected to win given his limited practice, but credited the two solid days of play and the confidence they provided. "I'm going to get back on the practice board at home as much as possible and dedicate the rest of the year to being my best," Humphries added. "I want to push Luke and everyone else because I want to stay at No. 2.
Whether that happens or not, I'm going to fight for it." Humphries' next stop is the Hungarian Darts Trophy in Budapest this weekend. He described his Leicester victory as a confidence boost, noting that neither he nor his opponent Luke Littler had been at their absolute best over the two days.
"It's funny – a lot of people haven't played their best, and Luke hasn't either. But it's about getting practice and building momentum for the rest of the year," Humphries explained. "I don't want him to achieve the clean sweep. As much as fans would love to see it, I'd love to win a major this year and head into the Worlds with confidence." The rivalry with Littler adds an extra layer of intrigue.
After briefly losing his No. 2 ranking to van Veen in early August, Humphries reclaimed it, stating, "I think that's as good as it gets at the moment. I'm about two million points away from Luke. The only way anyone could close that gap is by winning back‑to‑back World Championships, which is a massive challenge.
He's been the best player over the last 18 months and deserves his No. 1 spot." Looking ahead, the darts calendar is packed.
The World Series event in Amsterdam (September 17‑20) will be a crucial test for Littler, who needs to win to stay on track for his clean‑sweep. Following that, the double‑header Players Championship in Den Bosch will give him another chance to earn vital Order of Merit points. The season will culminate with the World Grand Prix (September 28‑October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3), all broadcast live on Sky Sports. For fans, the action is readily accessible.
Darts can be streamed via NOW, and highlights are regularly posted online. Podcasts such as "Love the Darts" provide deeper analysis and behind‑the‑scenes stories, while Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for major events in 2026. In summary, Humphries' PC28 triumph not only adds a third title to his season tally but also re‑establishes him as a serious contender for the top spots in the rankings. Meanwhile, Luke Littler's pursuit of an unprecedented clean sweep remains a compelling narrative, with each upcoming tournament offering him a chance to edge closer to a historic achievement.
The coming weeks promise high‑stakes drama, intense competition, and plenty of darts to watch for enthusiasts around the world.