Michael van Gerwen nine-darter not enough as Luke Humphries wins Players Championship Finals
- Published
Humphries won his first major title in October, and now has three to his name
Luke Humphries produced an astonishing comeback to seal the PDC Players Championship Finals title with an 11-9 win over Michael van Gerwen.
Dutchman Van Gerwen hit a nine-darter in the final for the second year running as he opened up a 9-5 lead.
But Humphries claimed six straight legs to overcome the seven-time winner for his third major triumph in two months.
"I would never have dreamed of winning one, let alone three," said the 28-year-old Englishman.
"To beat Michael in the final means the most to me."
On Saturday Van Gerwen set a new highest three-dart average in the tournament of 118.52 when beating Ross Smith 6-1.
And he looked set for an eighth title in Minehead with a brilliant nine-darter in the fifth leg as he dominated his opponent.
Humphries - who landed the Grand Slam of Darts seven days earlier, six weeks after winning his major maiden title at the World Grand Prix - looked down and out.
But he fought back with a run that included a 142 checkout and took victory on double one when Van Gerwen missed eight darts to force a decider.
"I had opportunities there but he never gave up," said Van Gerwen.
In-form Humphries will now be the man players will be looking to avoid when the draw is made on Monday afternoon for the World Championship on 15 December.