Luke Humphries continued his dominance at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, claiming his third ProTour title at the venue and his fourth overall of 2026 with an 8-4 victory over Niels Zonneveld in the final of Players Championship 33. No other player has won more ProTour titles at the venue, which often hosts the Players Championship series.
Humphries, who also won the World Grand Prix last month, is hitting form ahead of a busy business end to the season, including the Grand Slam of Darts next week. His route to the final included a semi-final win over Gary Anderson, averaging close to 105, and a 6-2 victory over Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals with a 92 average. In the last 16, he defeated Steve Lennon 6-2 with a 96 average. Earlier in the day, Humphries produced his biggest averages: a 109 in a 6-0 win over Tom Bissell and a 106 in a 6-0 win over Darius Labanauskas. Archie Self was his first victim, also beaten 6-0, albeit with a meeker 85 average.
Zonneveld's path to the final saw him defeat mostly Dutch talents. He overcame Michael van Gerwen, who produced the performance of the day with a 114 average, 7-5 in the semi-finals. Van Gerwen's attempt to win another ProTour leaves him one more day to fight. Zonneveld also beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4, Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-1, Justin Hood 6-4, Jack Aldridge 6-4, and Ritchie Edhouse 6-4.
The final was a tense affair. Humphries started superbly, hitting a 180 after Zonneveld had hit one earlier in the leg, and took the first leg with a 41 checkout on double 12. Zonneveld levelled with a 104 checkout. Humphries went 2-1 up with an 81 checkout on double six, then missed 114 for 3-1 but returned to hit double 20. Zonneveld hit 59 for 3-2, but Humphries pinned 80 to make it 4-2. Zonneveld checked out 82 to reduce the deficit to 4-3, but Humphries held throw for 5-3 after Zonneveld missed 106. Humphries then broke for 6-3 after Zonneveld missed 80. Zonneveld hit double 20 for 6-4 to break back, but missed chances to make it 6-5. Humphries missed two darts for 7-3, but Zonneveld missed three more, including at double three, and Humphries hit double 10 to make it 7-4. He then sealed the win with an 85 checkout.
Humphries' victory comes ahead of the Grand Slam of Darts next week, and he is likely to head towards signing off his ProTour campaign if he doesn't play tomorrow. The win further stamps his authority ahead of the business end of the season.
