"I said before that I wasn’t going to play in any, and I was serious": Luke Humphries makes slight change on Players Championship boycott but still plans limited schedule

The relief was visible, the smile genuine. After a long day of tough matches, Luke Humphries finally had a trophy back in his hands on the floor at a Players Championship. No roaring crowd, no bright TV lights like at the big televised events, but something that felt just as important to him: validation.

Humphries beat Dutchman Wessel Nijman 8-6 in the final of Players Championship 4. “Kind of a bit overwhelmed because I’ve not really had the best of days in Players Championships for a long time. I’ve just been playing on TV a lot and it’s a great feeling when it’s all going well up there. Then you come here and it’s a bit underwhelming — you kind of struggle to get up for it in a weird way.”

It’s a striking admission from a player who in recent years has become a fixture on the biggest stages. Humphries has been playing mostly on television lately, where the atmosphere, the crowd and the adrenaline of a major or a Premier League night visibly energize him. Returning to a floor event — without a crowd, without the show — can almost feel unfamiliar.

Humphries readily admitted he had long found the Players Championships difficult. “I’ve not really had the best of days in Players Championships for a long time. It’s a great feeling when it’s all going well on TV and then you come here and it’s a bit underwhelming — you kind of struggle to get up for it in a weird way.”

This time, though, something was different. The Englishman was even looking forward to being back on the floor. “I actually did enjoy coming here yesterday because it’s been a long time since I’ve been back. I was actually looking forward to coming here today as well. For me, if you’re looking forward to being here, that’s when I’m at my best. Apart from that first game, I thought I was really, really good today.”

That proved no empty claim. Aside from a small stutter in his opening match, Humphries produced a superb tournament. Six consecutive averages over a hundred, capped by a 105 average in the final. “Oh yeah. I’ve had some really, really tough games to play today. I had a couple of really tough ones early on and then Stephen Bunting going out — you’re playing Premier League players for a Players Championship title. You want to be playing them for major titles. So yeah, it’s a really nice feeling for me.”

Another key element in his success was his equipment. Humphries is using a new setup, and it seems to be paying off. "The new equipment’s still going good. Last week was a setback for me, obviously missing doubles, and I’ve missed a few doubles today, but I’m actually really, really pleased with myself. I’m feeling really good about my game. My scoring’s been really good and I feel elated. These might be small tournaments for some people, but for me these are big and they give me a lot of confidence because I think this is the first tournament I’ve won in a long time.”

It had also been over a year since he last lifted a Players Championship title. In a period where his priorities have shifted and the focus increasingly lies on majors and televised events, a floor title is no longer a given. “I’m really, really pleased because every title I win is a massive achievement for me.”

Still, the biggest win for Humphries wasn’t just on the oche. Behind his smile lies a clear priority: his family.

“There’s just a small thing in the back of my mind — which I now get to do, and that’s spend more time with my family. I know that’s not a lot to some people, but to me it means I can possibly miss 10 or 15 more days of this and spend more time with my family, which for me is the most important thing.”

He emphasized that money isn’t his driving force. “I’m not playing here to win the money. I’m playing here to try and get myself into the Players Championship Finals. I’m not there yet — I’ve still got work to do, but this allows me to go on and spend a bit more time with my family and enjoy it. That’s really what I was playing for today and I’m happy about it.”

His son Rowan plays a big part in that. “I’m sure my family — my son Rowan will probably be watching — he loves watching me on the screen. I’m sure he’ll be very happy as well.”

Notably, Humphries hinted last year he might stop playing Players Championships altogether. “I said before, I think it was last year that I wasn’t going to play in any, and I was serious about it to be fair.”

But after some reflection, he reconsidered. “It’s only 45 minutes away from my house, so you see how it goes. If it goes well, then you can carry on. If it doesn’t go well, then you don’t have to. I was just here to see how it goes. If I’m up on the leaderboard, then I can keep pushing. Obviously I’ve really put myself up there now, so I’m really, really pleased with myself.”

There won’t be much time to savor it, though. The schedule is packed. Humphries heads back to Premier League Darts action before travelling to Poland for a European Tour event.

“Yeah, it’s as busy as you like. For me, I go away tomorrow to Glasgow and then straight to Poland on Friday, so it doesn’t stop. But it’s hard to complain because you’re in such a privileged position. I love darts — I live and breathe it — and all my family live and breathe it. It does take it out of you, but you have to be happy with how fortunate you are to be in this position.”

In recent months Humphries has been knocking on the door at the big majors but just falling short. That’s why this win felt like more than “just” a floor title.

“Like I said, I know it’s a Players Championship, but for me it still feels like a major win, even though it’s not. Any win — whether it’s one of these, a European Tour or a major — they all feel the same. They all feel really good. You’ve beaten everybody in the room and that’s what I try to do every time I’m in a big tournament.”