Luke Humphries Beats Gerwyn Price in Birmingham to Reach O2 Finals Night

Luke Humphries surged to his first Premier League nightly success of the season in Birmingham, reaching Finals Night at London’s O2 after beating Gerwyn Price 6-4 in the final.

Humphries also ended Luke Littler’s 10-match winning streak with a 6-3 comeback win in the semi-finals, after Littler had led 3-0 in the race to six.

BBC

The BBC said Humphries overcame Stephen Bunting 6-0 and then produced a 6-3 comeback win over Luke Littler before beating Price 6-4, with the 31-year-old averaging 107 and 111.

Sky Sports reported Humphries took out 117 and averaged 100.16 in his 6-4 victory over Price, confirming all four play-off spots.

With the play-off places settled, the next league round is set for Sheffield, where the fixtures will determine who plays who in the semi-finals at The O2 on 28 May.

Humphries described the run as a struggle, telling Sky Sports: "For the last few weeks there has been a lot of pressure on my shoulders."

He added on Sky Sports that he believed he could still make Finals Night, saying, "Yes [there was a point where I thought I wouldn't make Finals Night]."

BBC

Sky Sports’ John Part called Humphries performance "golden," saying: "I described Luke's chances of qualifying a few weeks ago as unlikely."

The BBC also quoted Humphries saying, "It's been a struggle this year," as he reflected on coming through from fifth in the table after week 10.

Price’s path to the O2 was also secured in Birmingham, with the BBC noting he recovered after starting poorly against Michael van Gerwen before victory over Gian van Veen confirmed his place at the O2 Arena.

The BBC said the confirmed play-off group is Luke Littler, Jonny Clayton, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price, with the fixtures still needing to be decided in Sheffield.

It added that Littler is guaranteed to finish top and will play whoever finishes fourth, while Clayton will finish second and play third, with Littler also eyeing a record-breaking seventh night win in Sheffield.

Sky Sports set out the Sheffield Night 16 matchups at the Utilita Arena, with Price facing Van Veen and Humphries taking on Van Gerwen, while table-topping Littler tackles Rock and Clayton goes up against Bunting.

The BBC said the pair join Littler and Jonny Clayton, who had secured their places after week 12 in Liverpool, and it also noted that seven-time winner Van Gerwen misses out for the second year in a row.

With the play-offs at The O2 on 28 May, the BBC said the pair’s qualification guarantees a place at finals night on 28 May for the third successive year for Humphries.