Luke Humphries beats Luke Littler on way to sealing Premier League play-off spot
By Jonathan Veal, Press Association
Luke Humphries qualified for the Premier League play-offs after a sparkling victory in Birmingham, where he ended Luke Littler’s 10-match winning streak.
The defending champion has struggled for much of the league phase, but has come good when it mattered as he followed up victory over Littler by beating Gerwyn Price in the final at the Utilita Arena.
His victory means the top four is sewn up ahead of next week’s final league round in Sheffield as he joins Littler, Jonny Clayton and Price at the O2 on May 28.
HUMPHRIES PREVAILS IN BIRMINGHAM! 🙌
Reigning champion Luke Humphries books his place at Finals Night with a brilliant nightly victory in Birmingham! pic.twitter.com/PqUL3kylKU— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 14, 2026
Seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen misses out for a second successive year, while debutant Gian van Veen’s debut campaign will also end in Sheffield, along with Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock.
“It’s relief. You see from the way I felt at the end,” he said on his on-stage interview. “It’s been a struggle this year.
“I’ve worked incredibly hard, changed to my old points, my old flights, and it worked for me.
“We’ve all been through those stages, it shows true grit from that position I was in. To get through takes some determination and I’m proud of that.
“I’m just incredibly proud of myself, probably the most proud I’ve ever been in my life. The last three weeks there’s been a lot of pressure on my shoulders.
“When you’re five points from the top four you kind of think, ‘Well you need a miracle here’. I’m really happy I can go back to the O2 and at least give it a chance.”
Humphries was staring at a semi-final defeat to his arch-rival as Littler had two darts at his favourite double 10 to go 4-0 up in the race to six.
But he surprisingly missed, and that proved decisive as Humphries rattled off six legs in a row to stun Littler, who was aiming to win a record seventh night of the campaign.
The 31-year-old then followed it up with a 6-4 victory over Price to earn a first weekly win and seal his spot in London.
Price’s run to the final ensured he will finish the league stage in third place.
The Welshman, who withdrew from last week’s event in Leeds due to illness, guaranteed himself a trip to the capital with victories over Dutch pair Van Gerwen and Van Veen.
There were familiar feelings of early defeats for Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock, who has won just four of 14 matches in a debut campaign he will want to forget.
