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' collection but also saw him reclaim the world No. 2 spot in the PDC Order of Merit, overtaking Gian van Veen during the same day of competition.
The final was a tightly contested affair. Humphries, who had been working his way back into top form after a surprising first‑round loss to Cameron Menzies at the World Matchplay in July, showed composure under pressure. He opened the match strongly, but Dolan kept the score close, forcing several tense moments before Humphries finally broke ahead to seal the 8‑6 victory.
This triumph marked Humphries' first Players Championship title since PC17 in May, also staged at the Mattioli Arena, and demonstrated his ability to rebound quickly after a period of limited floor‑event action. In the semi‑finals, Humphries overcame Mike De Decker 7‑4, having survived a nail‑biting encounter with Danny Noppert two rounds earlier, where he escaped six match darts to win 6‑5.
De Decker, a consistent performer on the circuit, proved no match for Humphries' renewed confidence and sharp scoring. Meanwhile, Dolan earned his place in the final by dispatching Luke Littler 7‑4 in their semi‑final, a result that denied the world No.
1 a much‑anticipated showdown with Humphries. Littler, who entered the tournament after a long hiatus from the Players Championship series, was making only his second appearance of the season. He had previously suffered a quarter‑final exit to Jermaine Wattimena at PC27.
Having missed the first 26 events of the year, Littler is now scrambling to climb into the top 64 of the Order of Merit, a prerequisite for qualifying for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead later this November. After his run in Leicester, Littler sits 125th, trailing the 64th place by £16,750. With six tournaments remaining, he must not only participate but also deliver strong performances to close the gap. Littler's broader ambition this season is historic: he aims to achieve a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in a single year—a feat never before accomplished.
To date, he has already secured the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay in 2026. The remaining titles he must capture are the World Series (scheduled for Amsterdam 17‑20 September), the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts, and the Players Championship Finals. Success in Amsterdam will be a crucial indicator of whether his clean‑sweep quest remains viable. Littler's performance in Leicester was a mix of dominance and close calls.
He opened with a 6‑4 win over Stephen Rosney, then faced a stern test against world No. 107 Benjamin Pratnemer, surviving six match darts before clinching a final‑leg decider. Subsequent victories over Martin Schindler, Andy Boulton and Krzysztof Ratajski propelled him into the semi‑finals, where Dolan proved the stronger opponent.
Humphries' return to competitive floor darts this week marked his first outing since the July World Matchplay upset. After a 6‑3 loss to Cam Crabtree on Tuesday, he rebounded spectacularly, winning all seven of his matches on Wednesday. This was only his ninth floor event of the year, yet he already boasts three titles (PC4, PC17 and now PC28). His consistent earnings of £52,000 place him comfortably within the top 13 of the Order of Merit and virtually guarantee his participation in the Minehead finals.
Speaking after his victory, Humphries emphasized the importance of practice and confidence. "Honestly, it sounds crazy to be one of the best players in the world when I just came here for a bit of practice," he said. "I needed to get back into match rhythm after only two months away from the Matchplay, and I didn't want to jump straight into the Euro Tour without some warm‑up." He admitted he hadn't expected to win a title given his limited preparation, but credited two solid days of practice and match play for his success. "I'm going to get back on the practice board at home as much as I can now and dedicate the rest of the year to being my best," Humphries added.
"I want to stay at No 2, push Luke, and keep fighting for that spot. Whether I stay No 2 or not, I'll give everything I have." Humphries will travel to Budapest for the Hungarian Darts Trophy this weekend, viewing the Leicester win as a confidence boost despite not feeling at his absolute best. "A lot of players haven't played their best these last two days, including Luke," he noted, referring to world No.
1 Luke Littler. "I just want to keep practicing and build towards winning a major. I don't want him to complete the clean sweep. As much as everyone would love to see it, I'd love to win one this year and go into the Worlds with confidence." Reflecting on his return to the No.
2 ranking after being overtaken by van Veen in August, Humphries said, "I think that's as good as it gets at the moment, to be honest. I'm probably two million points away from Luke.
The only way to close that gap is to win back‑to‑back World Championships, which is extremely tough. He's been the best player over the last 18 months and deserves his No. 1 spot." The tournament's later stages featured a series of notable matches.
In the last 16, Humphries edged Danny Noppert 6‑5, while Dolan dispatched Karel Sedlacek 6‑2. The quarter‑finals saw Humphries defeat Owen Bates 6‑4 and De Decker 6‑5, while Dolan beat Luke Woodhouse 6‑4. In the semi‑finals, Humphries again overcame De Decker 7‑4, and Dolan eliminated Littler 7‑4, setting up the final showdown.
Beyond the immediate results, the event underscores the broader narrative of the 2026 darts season. Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster, covering major tournaments such as the World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November), and the World Darts Championship (10 December–3 January). Fans can stream live darts and other top‑level sport without contractual obligations, ensuring widespread access to the sport's biggest moments.
Overall, Humphries' PC28 triumph adds a compelling chapter to his resurgence and intensifies the rivalry with Littler, whose clean‑sweep dream now faces a formidable obstacle. The next weeks will be crucial for both players as they chase remaining titles, with the darts world watching closely to see whether Littler can complete an unprecedented haul or if Humphries and other contenders will thwart his historic bid.