Tommy Morris became only the sixth player without a tour card to win a PDC ranking title, and he did it in style — beating Luke Humphries 8-5 in the final of the 34th Players Championship of the season. The win seals his maiden ranking title and books his place at the Grand Slam of Darts, leaving the man himself utterly dumbfounded.
"I have no idea. I'm so happy. Listen, I come from nothing. I haven't even got a tour card, and I've come here and done that. I'm just flying the flag for where I live, doing it for my family. I don't even know what's going on, mate. I'm so happy. What a way to win it," Morris told Mark Wilson for the PDC after the victory. He becomes the second player this season to win a ranking title without a tour card, following Henry Coates, who stole the headlines in July.
Morris isn't a newcomer to the season's narrative — he has long impressed on the Challenge Tour, sealed his spot at Ally Pally through it, and has also featured on the MODUS Super Series. Asked about sealing the win over Humphries, he said it had come full circle, having gone from looking up to 'Cool Hand' last year to beating him in a Pro Tour final. A brilliant 161 checkout sealed the deal. "Just nail it to beat that guy. He's one of the guys I really look up to. Last year, I was watching him on the telly and said to myself, 'I can do that.' So, to beat him like that, I'm very, very proud of myself."
Fans will see plenty of Morris in the coming months — he's set to play all remaining majors at Minehead and Ally Pally, plus next week's Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton. But his dream remains a tour card. "I'm hoping, mate. Listen, it's my dream now. I had a target at the start of the year to reach the Worlds. My next target is to get a tour card and be with these boys full-time. They've made me feel so welcome. Luke, Merv, everybody. It's a breath of fresh air to be around them, let alone playing with them. I'm very honoured, especially to win something like this, because I've never won anything. I've always won the Wimborne Championship where I live. That's it. For me to win one of these PDC events is very overwhelming."
Morris admitted the win was a light bulb moment proving he can compete with the elite. "Oh, definitely. I've beaten some great players this week and last week in Den Bosch. Putting the cherry on top is beating Luke. He's such a placid, lovely and humble guy. To win like that, I was thinking, 'Come on, welcome to the world, Tommy.' This is definitely the door opening for me. I'm very honoured." Having reached the final in Den Bosch, Morris said he stays firmly in his own bubble. "No. You know what? I don't even know what's happening. I'm not even in the room. That's the way I look at it. I think this is a dream. For me to do this the way I have, today I've just been rolling with it. I look at every other guy in this room, and they've all got three darts. For me to come out top man today, like I said, I'm proud as punch, mate. Roll on some more good memories and hopefully some more titles under my belt."
He has also struck up a bond with Mervyn King, and an ecstatic Morris pledged to reward his friend on the way home. "Dinner's on me, mate. That's what I'm saying. Come on!" Known for his gun celebration as per his nickname, Tommy Gun will be doing that a lot more often, and he is ready to do what he can while he can. "Definitely. Listen, I'm looking forward to it. Like I said, I come from nothing. I'm going to go with nothing. I'm here and doing what I can while I can. So, let's go."
