World No.2 is too good for the rest as darting royalty return to Wigan's Robin Park

Humphries - who was without a Players Championship title since October 2024 - claimed his first title of the year with a dazzling display of darts, reaffirming his status as one of the premier players in world darts.

The world number two scooped the £15,000 top prize with an average of 104 against Nijman - his sixth ton-plus average of the day.

The Englishman trailed early in the contest, as Nijman rattled off back-to-back legs to take a two-leg lead, before Humphries responded in kind to level the contest at two apiece.

Nijman - who had already picked up a title this year in Hildesheim the week before - took the lead once again with a trio of five-visit legs, before Humphries claimed four legs on the spin, with winning legs of 12, 12, 14 and 12 darts to take a 7-5 lead.

Humphries sealed the victory two legs later, pinning a brilliant 13-dart leg to claim his fifth straight win over the Dutchman.

“Except for that first game, I thought I was really good today,” reflected Humphries, who recorded a tournament average of 102.19.

“I’ve had some really, really tough games to play today. A couple of really tough ones early on, and then Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price; these are Premier League players.

“I missed a few doubles today, but I’m really pleased with myself and feeling really good about my game.

"I feel elated! For me, these are big. It gives me a lot of confidence because it’s the first tournament I’ve won in a long time.

“I think my son will be watching me at home. He loves watching on the screen, I’m sure he will be very happy as well!

“There’s going to be a lot of graft this year, but if I keep playing like that then the rewards will come.”

Having kicked off his campaign with a deciding-leg victory over Martijn Dragt, Humphries produced averages of 103 and 104 to reach the last 32, with wins over Marvin Kraft and Luke Woodhouse respectively.

The world number two would then beat his Premier League rival Stephen Bunting, before producing a sublime 108 average in a 6-2 victory over Niels Zonneveld to book his place in the semi-finals.

This set-up a scintillating clash against Gerwyn Price, as the 31-year-old produced yet another ton-plus average to defeat the Welshman 7-4.

Chris Dobey had earlier produced a scintillating day of darts in Wigan on Monday, as Hollywood raced to his ninth Players Championship title with victory against Stephen Bunting.

Dobey - a winner of three Players Championship titles last year - claimed his first PDC ranking title of 2026, as he beat Bunting 8-1 to claim the £15,000 top prize.

The 35-year-old raced into a five-leg lead in the final, winning four out of the five legs in five visits or less, leaving Bunting with some serious work to do.

The St Helens star then claimed a consolation leg of his own in 14 darts, before Dobey rattled off the final three legs, with the last two legs being won in 26 darts.

“I felt like I played pretty steady all day, and I’m happy to get over the line,” stated Dobey, who averaged 11 points higher than Bunting in the final.

“Stephen said he felt good before the game, but sometimes it just isn’t your day, and fortunately for me, I came out on the winning end.

“You need luck to win tournaments like this, I was defending this one from two years ago, and on Day One I won it.

“I want to be back in there [Premier League]. I didn’t do enough last year; I want to produce this game on the big stages.”

Having kicked off his campaign with a comfortable opening 6-1 victory against Shane McGuirk, he then beat Jimmy van Schie and Ryan Joyce 6-4 respectively, with Dobey averaging 106 against Joyce.

The Englishman then overcame former World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks, before denying Darryl Pilgrim in a last-leg thriller to book his place in the semi-finals.

This set up a clash against Tom Bissell, and the Bedlington-born star dispatched Bissell, dropping only two legs in a convincing 7-2 victory.