PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 34 SUMMARY:

• Tommy Morris becomes just sixth non Tour-Card Holder to win PDC ranking title
• Humphries falls short of ninth ranking title of 2026 in the final
• Wessel Nijman finishes top of ProTour and Players Championship rankings
• Gary Anderson, Michael Smith and Mike De Decker qualify for Players Championship Finals
• Josh Rock, Ricardo Pietreczko and Ryan Joyce among names to fail to qualify for Minehead

Tommy Morris created history by claiming the Players Championship 34 title on Thursday, defeating Luke Humphries 8-5 in the final to become the sixth player in PDC history to win a ranking title without a Tour Card.

The 34th and final Players Championship event of the year took place at the Mattioli Arena, with huge implications in the qualification races for the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals and the Paddy Power World Darts Championship. 

However, Challenge Tour top-up player Morris stole the headlines with his remarkable triumph in Leicester, defeating world number three Humphries to claim a first PDC ranking title.

“I’ve come from nothing. I haven’t even got a Tour Card,” reflected an emotional Morris, who will feature at the Grand Slam of Darts and World Championship for the first time later this year after his excellent ProTour performances.

“For me to come here and do that, I’m just flying my flag for where I live. I’m doing it for my family. I’m so happy.

“Luke is one of the guys that I really look up to. Last year I was watching him on the TV and I said to myself: ‘I can do that.’

“For me to beat Luke like that, I’m very, very proud of myself.

“This is my dream. I had a target at the start of the year to reach the World Championship."

Morris saw off former World Champion Rob Cross 6-3 to kickstart his campaign, before whitewashing Ricky Evans in round two - putting Evans’ World Championship hopes in jeopardy.

The 34-year-old then bagged a hat-trick of 6-3 wins over Rob Owen, top seed Wessel Nijman and Jermaine Wattimena to reach the semi-finals, including an average in excess of 102 against Nijman.

The Poole-based star, who lost in the Players Championship 32 final to Chris Dobey last week in Den Bosch, reached another showpiece by defeating Spanish number one Cristo Reyes 7-4, where World Grand Prix champion Humphries awaited.

Despite trailing 2-0, Morris claimed five of the next six legs to lead 5-3, capitalising on an off-colour doubling display from his opponent to seal an 8-5 victory courtesy of a magnificent 161 checkout. 

Morris’ excellent form has earned the 34-year-old debuts at the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and World Championship, having finished third on the Challenge Tour rankings.

“My next target is to get a Tour Card and be with these boys full-time. They’ve made me feel so welcome,” continued Morris.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to be around them, and to win one of these PDC events is very overwhelming for me.

“I’ve beaten some great players over the last few weeks, and putting the cherry on top is beating Luke.

“This is definitely the door opening for me. I’m very honoured. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Humphries almost followed Wednesday’s Players Championship 33 title with a successive crown, only to be denied a ninth ranking title of 2026 in the final.

The world number three recovered from 4-1 down to pip Mike De Decker 6-5 in his opening content, before sweeping aside Bradley Brooks and Justin Hood with greater ease.

The World Grand Prix champion’s best performance of the day came in his 6-3 triumph over Ricardo Pietreczko, averaging north of 107 to deny the German number two a last-gasp qualification for the Players Championship Finals.

Humphries then defeated old foe Michael van Gerwen 6-3 - recording his sixth successive victory in ranking matches against the three-time World Champion - before battling past a valiant Jack Aldridge 7-5 with another ton-plus average to reach the showpiece.

Aldridge was excellent in reaching the last four, threatening to win the title as another non-Tour Card Holder himself.

The 37-year-old saw off the likes of William O'Connor and Danny Noppert in breaking new ground and reaching the semi-finals.

Reyes completed the last four line-up, reflecting his resurgent return to the ProTour with wins over Chris Dobey and Kim Huybrechts.

Dobey struck a nine-darter during his 6-1 drubbing of Tom Bissell in round three, averaging almost 113 in the best performance of the day.

The race for Players Championship Finals qualification concluded in dramatic fashion, with over ten players sealing their Minehead fates on the final day of action despite multiple round one losses.

Gary Anderson secured his place with a round one win over Andy Boulton, following on from his run to the semi-finals on Wednesday. 

Michael Smith and Ritchie Edhouse also qualified on the final day of action, despite both suffering opening round defeats to Adam Leek and Connor Scutt respectively. 

Henry Coates - who won Event 25 as a non-Tour Card Holder in July - squeezed in as the 64th and final player despite suffering a round one defeat to Jeffrey de Zwaan, with De Decker qualifying in 63rd in spite of an opening round loss to Humphries.

Coates is also set to make his debut at the World Championship in December barring an incredible Grand Slam run from an unqualified player, with the 20-year-old currently occupying the 40th and final ProTour qualifier spot.

Wesley Plaisier’s opening round defeat to Cameron Menzies proved costly, with the Dutchman finishing one spot outside of a Players Championship Finals place and World Championship qualification through the ProTour. 

There were a number of big names that failed to qualify for November’s Players Championship Finals, including world number eight Josh Rock, who succumbed to a 6-3 defeat in round two to Harry Ward. 

Ryan Joyce also failed to qualify for the first time since 2017, losing to Pietreczko in his opening match. 

Nijman finished the year as the top-performing player on the ProTour and the Players Championship rankings, losing in round one on just three occasions across 32 appearances.

Chris Dobey finished second on the Players Championship rankings having claimed three titles in 2026, while Kevin Doets’ remarkable consistency and first career ranking title helped the Dutchman to seal third.

The 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals will take place at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from November 27-29, with a £750,000 prize pool up for grabs.

Click here for match stats & results.

2026 Players Championship 34
Thursday November 5
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Last 16
Tommy Morris 6-3 Wessel Nijman
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Kim Huybrechts 6-2 James Wade
Cristo Reyes 6-4 Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Derek Coulson
Luke Humphries 6-3 Ricardo Pietreczko
Jack Aldridge 6-5 Archie Self
Danny Noppert 6-3 Daryl Gurney

Quarter-Finals
Tommy Morris 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Cristo Reyes 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Luke Humpries 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Jack Aldridge 6-4 Danny Noppert

Semi-Finals
Tommy Morris 7-4 Cristo Reyes
Luke Humphries 7-5 Jack Aldridge

Final
Tommy Morris 8-5 Luke Humphries

Nine-Darter!
Chris Dobey hit a nine-darter in his round three tie against Tom Bissell.