Luke Humphries revealed he lost over a stone due to food poisoning but still stormed to his fourth Players Championship title of 2026 with an 8-4 victory over Niels Zonneveld as Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld took a huge step towards world championship qualification.
Humphries has now prevailed in three of his four Players Championship appearances in Leicester this season, marking the perfect preparation for the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts admitted he was forced him to pull out of the European Championship last month and then struggling with huge weight loss and a lack of practice.
It was also a terrific day for Van Barneveld, who took a huge step towards world championship qualification with a run to his second ProTour quarter-final of 2026, while Gary Anderson moved him into the provisional Players Championship Finals field with a run to the last four.
"It was more about coming back and seeing what my energy levels are like because I've obviously been very ill for the last two weeks," admitted Humphries.
"I've had food poisoning and I've not really moved about a lot for three and a half weeks.
"I've lost a stone. Well I did when I went on the scales after eight or nine days. I weighed myself and I'd lost 15 pounds. Jesus, what the hell. I couldn't eat.
"I'd never miss a major if I could. I think that's the first one I've ever missed. I was devastated to miss the European Championship because I was on a good run after winning the Grand Prix.
"I didn't win the Swiss trophy but I played really good. So I thought to myself I feel like I'm a little bit back here and I can maybe go on and do something great this year and that's a backward step when you have to miss a tournament.
"I didn't practice for two weeks. I had a few throws the last four days. It re-evaluates that confidence again that makes you think you carried on from where you left off.
"To come here and win it takes you back a little bit. So obviously I know the game's there to win these things. But the way I've been the last few weeks it's an unexpected win for myself.
"I've had a good year. I still want to win another major. If it's not the Grand Slam or Players Championship, I want it to be the World Championship.
"I think that's the thing I really search for now. Put my name in the legacy of some of the greats that's ever been."
The world No 3 maintained his charge with back-to-back 6-2 victories against Steve Lennon and Gerwyn Price, before defying a 106.75 average from Anderson to triumph in an epic semi-final.
Humphries produced a brace of 12-dart breaks to seize the initiative against Zonneveld in the showpiece, before capping off a classy display with an 11-dart hold to triumph with a 103.77 average.
Henry Coates currently occupies the final provisional place at Minehead, having produced ton-plus averages in wins over James Wade and Mervyn King, only to succumb to Gerwyn Price in round three.
The 20-year-old has subsequently moved into the provisional world championship places at the expense of David Sharp, who was on the receiving end of a nine-darter in his defeat to Tommy Lishman.
The field for this month's Players Championship Finals will be confirmed following the conclusion of PC34, with the top 64 players on the yearly Players Championship rankings assured of qualification.
It's also set to be a pivotal day in the battle for World Darts Championship qualification.
2026 Players Championship 33
Wednesday November 4
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Last 16
Gary Anderson 6-4 Wessel Nijman
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Tyler Thorpe
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Humphries 6-2 Steve Lennon
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Ross Smith
Niels Zonneveld 6-1 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Tommy Morris
Danny Noppert 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Luke Humphries 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Danny Noppert
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 7-4 Gary Anderson
Niels Zonneveld 7-5 Michael van Gerwen
Final
Luke Humphries 8-4 Niels Zonneveld
When are the Players Championship Finals?
The Players Championship Finals will take place at Butlins in Minehead November 27-29.
The winner of the event takes home £130,000, with a total prize pot of £750,000 on the line for the 64 players.
The World Youth Championship Final between Cam Crabtree and Jan Schmidt will be played on the same weekend on November 29.
Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and World Darts Championship (December 11-January 3) all live. Stream darts and more through NOW with no contract.
