Luke Humphries has admitted to a slight change of heart regarding his previously stated intention to boycott all Players Championship events, though he still plans a limited schedule. The world-class star, who last year declared "I said before that I wasn't going to play in any, and I was serious about it," revealed his reconsideration after capturing the Players Championship 4 title on Tuesday. Humphries beat Dutchman Wessel Nijman 8-6 in the final, marking his fifth career Players Championship crown and his first in over a year.
The victory came after Humphries acknowledged struggling with motivation at floor events compared to televised majors. "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," he said. However, this time felt different, with Humphries noting he was "actually looking forward to coming here." His performance backed that up, featuring six consecutive averages over a hundred, capped by a 105 average in the final, despite a "small stutter" in his opening match.
Humphries attributed part of his success to new equipment, stating, "The new equipment's still going good." More significantly, he emphasized that family remains his top priority, which influences his tournament choices. "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 can possibly miss 10 or 15 more days of this and spend more time with my family," he explained, adding that his son Rowan "loves watching me on the screen." He clarified that money isn't his driving force; instead, he's playing to qualify for the Players Championship Finals.
Looking ahead, Humphries has a packed schedule, heading to Glasgow for Premier League Darts action before travelling to Poland for a European Tour event. Reflecting on the win, he said, "I know it's a Players Championship, but for me it still feels like a major win... Any win — whether it's one of these, a European Tour or a major — they all feel the same." His reconsideration of playing Players Championships hinges on proximity and performance: "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."
