Humphries misses out on Players title
DANNY Noppert beat world champion Luke Humphries 8-6 on Tuesday to win Players Championship 8 in Leicester and secure his fifth ProTour title.
The Dutchman continued his incredible record of having never lost a Players Championship final in five attempts as he powered past world number one Humphries.
With little to split the pair in the final, it was Noppert’s superior finishing that helped him secure the title – landing 47 per cent of his attempts compared to Humphries 35 per cent.
“Both of us were struggling, but I am so happy to get over the line,” said Noppert.
“Yesterday my performance was not so good, but today I was there at the right moments.
“There were some crazy games today, but I am really proud of myself for taking it over the line.”
It was Newbury-born Humphries who started the final brightly as he raced into a 2-0 lead before Noppert pinned a 126 checkout to get his first leg on the board.
A great spell for Noppert
then saw him move 4-3 ahead, before Humphries levelled with a beautiful 128 checkout.
However from there, it was the world number one who was doing the chasing as Noppert edged ever closer to the title – sealing it with a 64 checkout on double 10. n HUMPHRIES was knocked off the top of the BetMGM Premier League after losing 6-3 to Michael Smith in Manchester on Thursday.
Smith moved to within two points of the play-off places with an impressive win over Humphries in the last eightfinals, defying a late rally to triumph. The Manchester event was won by teenage sensation Luke Littler, who took over at the top of the table on 23 after beating Gerwyn Price in the final for his second triumph in successive weeks.
Humphries is still well placed to make the end-of-season play-offs as he lies in second place on 22 points, four clear of third-placed Nathan Aspinall.
The roadshow moves on to Birmingham tonight (Thursday) when Humphries will face bottom-of-the-table Peter Wright.