HUMPHRIES WARNED LEEDS CLASH COULD DEFINE PLAY-OFF HOPES
06/05/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
LUKE HUMPHRIES will be “really deflated” if he fails to reach Premier League Finals Night.
Cool Hand reached his second nightly final of the campaign on Night 13 in Aberdeen before losing to Luke Littler.
The world No.2 impressed throughout the evening, averaging over 99 across his three matches as he defeated Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen on his way to the final.
The Cheshire thrower now sits sixth in the table, just two points outside the Play-Off places, with only three nights of the regular season remaining.
Humphries faces Josh Rock tomorrow evening in his beloved city of Leeds and knows a win is crucial if he wishes to succesfully defend his title.
Former world champ Webster believes the run-in represents a huge opportunity for Humphries to force his way into the top four but warned anything less than a strong finish could prove costly.
He told the Love the Darts Podcast: “I’d expect Humphries to get by Josh and I think he’ll win against the winner of the other quarter-final.
“It’s about what awaits him in the final and if he can get those crucial, extra couple of points.
“It’s not just those extra points it’s about winning the night and getting that extra spring in your step with just Birmingham and Sheffield left.
“This is a massive opportunity for Luke and if he doesn’t make the final he’ll leave there really deflated, and maybe it won’t be his year, in terms of making the top four.
“It’s a huge opportunity. He comes alive in Leeds and maybe this can be the catalyst because he’s running out of time.”
If Humphries were to make it into the semi-final, he would face either Stephen Bunting or Gian van Veen at the Leeds Arena.
Humphries also boasts an unbeaten record at the venue, having claimed nightly victories there in both 2024 and 2025.
The Leeds United fan is also expected to wear his traditional yellow and blue jersey for the occasion.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
