Defending champion Luke Humphries delivered a masterclass in Birmingham to secure his first nightly win of the Premier League season—and in doing so, both he and Gerwyn Price punched their tickets to the play-offs.
Humphries, who had reached the final for the third week running, defeated the Welshman 6-4 in a thrilling showdown. The 31-year-old was in devastating form, first whitewashing Stephen Bunting 6-0 with a 107 average, then rallying from behind to beat teenage sensation Luke Littler 6-3. He closed the night with another 100-plus average in the final, leaving no doubt about his place among the elite.
The victory guarantees Humphries a spot at finals night on 28 May for the third consecutive year—a remarkable turnaround for the world number two. After week 10, he sat seventh in the eight-player table, five points adrift of fourth place. Now, he's assured of finishing at least fourth and heads into the final league phase in Sheffield on 21 May level on points with Price in third.
"It's been a struggle this year," Humphries told Sky Sports. "I worked incredibly hard, I changed back to my old flights and it worked. I'm proud of myself. It's easy when you're winning, but it shows true grit to come from my position to then get through and win it tonight. Probably the most proud I've been in my life."
Humphries and Price join Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton, who had already secured their play-off berths after week 12 in Liverpool. Price, who looked comfortable after winning in Manchester in week nine, endured a rough patch with four quarter-final defeats in five weeks. But he started slowly against Michael van Gerwen on Thursday before recovering, then sealed his place at the O2 Arena with a win over Gian van Veen.
The big story of the night? Seven-time winner Michael van Gerwen misses out on the play-offs for just the third time in his career—and for the second year running, the Dutchman exits during the league phase. With the final league night in Sheffield set for 21 May, the stage is set for an explosive finish to the Premier League season.