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' growing 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 proceedings. The final was a tightly contested affair.
After both players exchanged blows early on, Humphries managed to edge ahead, ultimately finishing the match with a two‑leg margin. It was his first Players Championship title since PC17 in May, also staged at the same venue, underscoring his strong form in the Leicester arena.
In the semi‑finals, Humphries overcame Mike De Decker 7-4, having survived a harrowing moment just two rounds earlier when he fended off six match darts from Danny Noppert to win 6-5. De Decker, a seasoned campaigner, proved no match for Humphries' clinical finishing in the later stages. Meanwhile, Brendan Dolan earned his place in the final by dispatching Luke Littler 7-4 in their semi‑final clash. Littler, the world No.
1 and a dominant force this season, had previously eliminated Humphries’ rival, Luke Littler, in a dramatic 7-4 semi‑final showdown that prevented a potential blockbuster final between the two top‑ranked players. Littler's campaign in Leicester marked only his second Players Championship appearance of the year. After a quarter‑final loss to Jermaine Wattimena at PC27 earlier in the week, Littler entered PC28 with the aim of consolidating his position in the Order of Merit. Having missed the first 26 events, he currently sits 125th, some £16,750 shy of the top‑64 cutoff required for qualification to the Minehead finals in November.
With six tournaments remaining, Littler must not only compete but deliver deep runs to bridge that gap. Littler's broader ambition remains unchanged: to achieve a historic clean sweep of all major PDC titles in a single season. To date in 2026 he has already captured the World Championship, the Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts, and the World Matchplay. The remaining trophies on his list 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.
Completing this set would represent an unprecedented feat in darts history. In Leicester, Littler began his run with a 6-4 victory over Stephen Rosney, but his second‑round match nearly turned into a nightmare when he survived six match darts from world No. 107 Benjamin Pratnemer, ultimately prevailing in a deciding leg. He then dispatched Martin Schindler, Andy Boulton, and Krzysztof Ratajski in quick succession to reach the last four, where he finally fell to Dolan.
Humphries, returning to competitive play after his surprising first‑round exit to Cameron Menzies at the World Matchplay on 20 July, had a mixed start in Leicester. He lost 6-3 to Cam Crabtree on Tuesday but rebounded spectacularly on Wednesday, winning all seven of his matches. This marks his ninth floor event of the year, yet he has already secured three titles (PC4, PC17, and now PC28).
With £52,000 in prize money and a 13th‑place ranking, his place at the Minehead finals is virtually guaranteed. Speaking after his triumph, Humphries admitted his preparation had been limited. "Honestly, it sounds crazy, but I came here just for a bit of practice and to feel normal again," he said.
"I hadn't played a match‑play event in two months, so I needed to get back into rhythm. I didn't want to jump straight into the Euro Tour without any practice, which is why I entered this event." He added that while he hadn't expected to win given his lack of recent practice, the two solid days of competition boosted his confidence. "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 explained.
"I want to stay at No. 2 and push Luke – not just Luke, but everyone – because I know I can compete at that level." Humphries will head to Budapest for the Hungarian Darts Trophy this weekend, viewing his Leicester success as a confidence builder. "I didn't play my best, but I still managed to win, which is encouraging," he noted. "A lot of players haven't been at their peak these last two days, including Luke.
It's been funny." He also expressed a desire to prevent Littler from completing his clean sweep. "As much as everyone would love to see that, I'd love to win a major this year and go into the Worlds with confidence," Humphries said. "I don't want him to have the clean sweep." Reflecting on his return to the No. 2 ranking after briefly being overtaken by van Veen in August, the 2024 world champion remarked, "That's as good as it gets for now.
I'm probably two million points away from Luke. The only way to close that gap would be to win back‑to‑back World Championships, which is a massive challenge.
He's been the best player over the last 18 months and deserves the top spot." The tournament also featured a full slate of results, with Humphries navigating a tough draw that included victories over Owen Bates, Mike De Decker, Kim Huybrechts, and Luke Woodhouse before his final showdown with Dolan. The event highlighted the depth of talent on the PDC circuit and set the stage for the upcoming major tournaments, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in 2026, including the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Darts Championship later in the year.