Luke Humphries clinched his third Players Championship crown of the year by defeating Brendan Dolan 8-6 in the final of PC28, held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The victory not only added another trophy to Humphries' growing collection but also saw him reclaim the world No. 2 spot in the PDC rankings, overtaking Gian van Veen during the day's action. The final was a tightly contested affair.
Humphries, who had been on a modest run of form after a surprising first‑round loss to Cameron Menzies at the World Matchplay in July, found his rhythm early and kept the pressure on Dolan throughout. Dolan, the Irish qualifier who had earlier eliminated world No. 1 Luke Littler 7-4 in the semi‑finals, fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short as Humphries held his nerve in the closing legs. Humphries' path to the title was anything but easy.
In the semi‑final he faced Mike De Decker, winning 7-4 after a grueling quarter‑final where he survived six match darts from Danny Noppert, edging that encounter 6-5. Earlier in the day, Humphries had also dispatched Mike De Decker in a 7‑4 semi‑final, showing a consistency that had eluded him in some of the earlier floor events of the season.
For Littler, the day was a bittersweet reminder of how close he is to achieving an unprecedented clean sweep of all major PDC titles in a single season. Having already captured the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay in 2026, the only remaining major trophies are the World Series, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals. A victory in each of those events would place him in the record books as the first player ever to win every PDC major in a single calendar year.
Littler's campaign in Leicester began with a straightforward 6‑4 win over Stephen Rosney, but his next match saw him under intense pressure as he survived six match darts from world No. 107 Benjamin Pratnemer, eventually prevailing in a deciding leg. He then dispatched Martin Schindler, Andy Boulton and Krzysztof Ratajski in quick succession, securing a place in the last four. However, Dolan proved the better opponent in the semi‑final, ending Littler's clean‑sweep hopes for the day.
Littler has only participated in two Players Championship events this season after missing the first 26 tournaments. He is currently 125th on the Order of Merit, trailing the 64th spot by £16,750. With six events remaining before the Minehead finals in November, Littler must not only compete in each of them but also deliver strong performances to bridge the gap and secure a place among the top 64.
Humphries, meanwhile, has turned his focus to the upcoming Hungarian Darts Trophy in Budapest, using his recent success as a confidence boost. "I didn't think I could win after such limited practice, but the two good days I've had show that hard work pays off," he said. "I'm going to keep practicing at home and dedicate the rest of the year to staying at No.
2 and challenging Luke for the top spot." His comments reflect a broader narrative of resilience. After a 6‑3 loss to Cam Crabtree in the opening round of the Leicester event, Humphries rebounded by winning all seven of his subsequent matches, marking his ninth floor event of the year and his third Players Championship title after earlier wins at PC4 and PC17.
His earnings of £52,000 to date virtually guarantee his participation in the Minehead finals. The implications of Humphries' triumph extend beyond personal accolades. By denying Littler a victory, he has temporarily halted the English prodigy's quest for a historic clean sweep, keeping the major titles open for other contenders. The upcoming World Series in Amsterdam (September 17‑20) will be a crucial test for Littler, as will the World Grand Prix, European Championship and Grand Slam later in the year.
The PDC calendar remains packed. Sky Sports will broadcast 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).
Fans can also stream darts and other top sports through NOW, while the Love the Darts podcast offers additional analysis and interviews. In summary, Luke Humphries' victory at PC28 not only adds a third title to his 2026 season but also reasserts his position as a top‑two player in the world. His win thwarted Luke Littler's immediate attempt to keep his clean‑sweep momentum alive, leaving the remainder of the season wide open for drama and potential record‑breaking achievements. The coming months will determine whether Littler can still complete his unprecedented run or if Humphries and other rivals will continue to disrupt his plans as the race for the final major titles intensifies.