Luke Humphries' Premier League Darts play-off hopes are hanging by a thread as the world number two sits seventh in the table after ten nights, still without a nightly win. Since week seven, Humphries has not won a match, leaving him five points adrift of fourth-placed Michael van Gerwen, with concerns growing that "something isn't quite right" for the former 2024 world champion.
His latest setback came in a 6-5 thriller against Jonny Clayton in Brighton, sealed by Clayton with a spectacular bullseye checkout in the deciding leg. Commentator Chris Murphy noted on the Love the Darts podcast, "I don't know what the problem is because something does seem slightly off," but added that Humphries is the one player outside the play-offs who could "go on and win back-to-back nights and catapult himself into those places." Murphy emphasized, "It's not just about winning matches for him. He needs to win nights to get through."
Analyst Michael Bridge offered a different perspective, suggesting Humphries' mindset away from darts is a factor. "Luke isn't running away with things anymore. He's getting his life back a bit because he's going to Aintree and Cheltenham, so I don't think things are getting to him like they used to," Bridge said. He suspects Humphries is less hungry, adding, "He'll try and go on a run now, but I don't think he'll be devastated if he doesn't make the top four. Not like it would a couple of years ago."
This Thursday evening, Humphries gets another chance to scrape together points, but faces a tough opening match against Gian van Veen at Rotterdam Ahoy, where van Veen will be extra motivated in front of his home crowd.
