Defending champion Luke Humphries beat Gerwyn Price 6-4 to win his first night of the Premier League season in Birmingham, with both players securing their places at finals night on 28 May. Humphries, in his third successive night final, produced an impressive 6-0 win over Stephen Bunting and a 6-3 comeback victory over Luke Littler en route to the title.
The 31-year-old averaged 107 and 111 in his earlier matches before another 100-plus average in the final. After week 10, Humphries sat seventh in the eight-player table and was five points off fourth before his run to the week 13 final. He is now guaranteed to finish at least fourth and goes into the final league phase night in Sheffield on 21 May equal on points with third-placed Price.
Humphries told Sky Sports: "It's been a struggle this year. 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. I'm just incredibly proud of myself. Probably the most proud I've been in my life."
Price, who had four defeats in five quarter-finals after winning in Manchester in week nine, started poorly against Michael van Gerwen on Thursday but recovered, before victory over Gian van Veen confirmed his place at the O2 Arena. The pair join Littler and Jonny Clayton, who had secured their spots after week 12 in Liverpool. Seven-time winner Van Gerwen misses out for just the third time in his career, exiting in the league phase for the second year in a row, alongside debutant Van Veen and Bunting.
While the four players are confirmed, the fixtures for the play-offs still need to be decided in Sheffield. Littler is guaranteed to finish top and will play whoever finishes fourth, while Clayton, who will finish second, will play third. Littler will also be eyeing a record-breaking seventh night win in Sheffield. The final league-stage night on 21 May at the Utilita Arena features quarter-finals including Clayton v Bunting, Price v Van Veen, Littler v Rock, and Humphries v Van Gerwen.
