World Champion Luke Humphries Clinches Hat-Trick of Premier League Wins
World champion Luke Humphries showcased his exceptional skills by securing a hat-trick of victories in the Premier League on Thursday. Humphries, the current world number one, displayed a clinical performance as he defeated top players Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall before triumphing over Michael Smith 6-2 in the final held in Dublin.
Control at the Top
With this impressive win, Humphries solidified his position at the top of the Premier League table, adding to his previous triumphs in Brighton and Nottingham. The 29-year-old dominated the final against Smith by winning the first four legs and sealing the victory with a precise double 16 finish.
After his remarkable performance, Humphries expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The last three weeks have been fantastic. The standard has been high. I’m not unbeatable but I’m putting in that stage of performance where it takes something big to beat me and nobody has done that so far.”
He continued, “I’m just happy with the way I’m playing and if I keep playing like this then it will take a tough performance to beat me – that’s all I ask of myself.”
Consistent Success
Humphries emphasized his contentment with his recent achievements, mentioning, “If someone beats me and I play well then I’m not too disappointed but the last three weeks have been a dream. I’m really pleased with the fashion I’ve won the last three nights.”
Following his victory, Humphries extended his lead in the standings to seven points, as Michael van Gerwen suffered a 6-5 defeat against Gerwyn Price, who broke a streak of four consecutive quarter-final losses.
Luke Littler faced a challenging night as he was defeated by Smith for the third time, losing 6-4 despite initially leading 3-1, marking his second quarter-final exit of the season. This result places him fifth in the standings, while Aspinall gained two points by narrowly defeating Rob Cross 6-5.
Reflecting on his performance, Littler commented, “It’s my first year in the Prem. Some weeks have gone to plan and some weeks have not. But it’s all about getting the points on the board. Obviously this is the halfway point, whatever happens from now until the end is the crucial part.”
