Sky Sports analyst and former pro Wayne Mardle has expressed concern over Luke Humphries' on-stage behavior, suggesting it could hinder his bid for a Premier League Darts play-off spot. Humphries, the reigning champion, has endured a difficult start to the 2026 season, still waiting for his first nightly title after nine nights. In Manchester, he suffered a setback with a 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Gerwyn Price. With only one final appearance so far, Humphries sits sixth in the standings, outside the top four.
Mardle pinpointed the issue as mental rather than technical. "What I didn't like tonight was that he kept berating himself way too often," said Mardle. "Every time he missed a treble actually, which is not like him." He speculated that pressure might be building, noting, "So I don't know if he is feeling under pressure, I have no idea. I don't know if it is table-oriented. I don't know if it's the fact that he should be winning." Despite this, Mardle affirmed Humphries' quality, stating, "But when he is at it he will win. He's got to be confident and he is still in a good position."
The analyst believes the final stretch will be crucial, saying, "It is still in his hands and there are still enough points to pick up. If he plays well for the run-in and I don't mean from next week, the last four or five weeks, I think he will be absolutely fine." Mardle also views the play-off race as wide open, with small margins and several contenders. "To me, it feels like there is only one position," he analyzed. "Don't rule out Van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Humphries." He added, "I am not saying Bunting cannot get in there. Rock just kind of wants to get himself going again."
Mardle emphasized the importance of the schedule in the closing weeks, explaining, "Come that last week or penultimate week of the league phase, it is going to be paramount who you are playing. Not just who you beat, who you are playing. If you beat the right people, you are laughing." He warned about direct rivals, noting, "When you are chasing that play-off place, you cannot lose to those above you until maybe the last week, where someone has sailed off into the sunset." Humphries' next opportunity comes on Thursday, 04/09/2026, in Brighton, where he faces Jonny Clayton in the quarterfinals.
