In a dramatic conclusion to the Players Championship series, world number one Luke Humphries clinched his spot in November’s finals amidst controversy surrounding tournament officials, as reigning world champion Luke Littler voiced his criticism.
Luke Humphries’ Journey to the Finals
Luke Humphries, 30, began the day ranked 58th in the competition. He faced a critical match in the first round of Players Championship 34. A loss would have meant missing the finals entirely. However, Humphries secured a decisive 6-2 victory over Dutch competitor Martijn Dragt, allowing him to advance. He faced Rob Owen in the second round, ultimately losing 6-4 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.
Players Championship Finals Details
The Players Championship Finals will take place in Minehead, Somerset, from November 21-23. A total of 64 top-performing players will participate in these finals.
Luke Littler’s Critique of Officials
Luke Littler, 18, had only recently qualified for the finals after winning Players Championship 32. Unfortunately, he was unable to participate in Players Championship 33 due to traffic delays caused by a fatal incident on the M6. Littler missed the 11:00 GMT registration deadline and later expressed his condolences on Instagram.
- Littler noted: “Missed registration today for the pro tour, but someone sadly lost their life. Thinking of everyone.”
- On Thursday, he reached the last 32 but lost 6-5 in a deciding leg against Canada’s Matt Campbell.
Controversial Late Registrations
Following his elimination, Littler took to social media to express his frustration over the treatment of players regarding registration times. In a now-deleted post, he highlighted that some competitors were admitted late, while he was penalized for arriving two minutes past the deadline.
He remarked, “Says a lot, one rule for one and one for another.”
Players Championship 34 Results
In other noteworthy outcomes, Dutch player Wessel Nijman defeated Luke Woodhouse of England 8-5, claiming the title in Players Championship 34. Notably, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen will not participate in the finals, having fallen outside the top 64 in rankings after skipping the last two events.
