Luke Humphries Heads to Nottingham as Premier League Night Six Play Unfolds
Luke Humphries walked out to the Kaiser Chiefs’ “I Predict a Riot” inside Motorpoint Arena, a moment that folded a player into the hush and roar of Week Six in Nottingham. Night Six of the Premier League Darts in Nottingham brings Humphries up against Gian van Veen, with live coverage scheduled from 7: 00 pm ET.
Luke Humphries at Motorpoint Arena: missed Big Fish and finishing woes
Humphries came within a dart of completing a Big Fish finish but hit the outer bull instead of the inner, then missed a double to break and needed 18 darts to finish the leg. Those moments followed a week in which Humphries thrashed Michael van Gerwen 6-1 and then lost 6-4 to Jonny Clayton. Humphries has won three matches so far and is yet to reach a final in this year’s Premier League meet.
Gian van Veen’s record against Luke Humphries and his walk-on in Nottingham
Gian van Veen has won seven of his last nine meetings with Luke Humphries; the Dutchman will throw first to try and make that eight from ten. Van Veen has reached three finals in this competition but lost each one, marking him as a near-miss figure in the league so far. Inside Motorpoint Arena the crowd responded warmly to van Veen’s techno walk-on, a contrast to Humphries’ entrance music and the different rhythms the two players bring to the stage.
Night Six line-up in Nottingham and quarter-final results shaping the draw
Week Six in Nottingham produced quarter-final results that set the evening’s tone: Josh Rock 1-6 Stephen Bunting and Jonny Clayton 6-3 Michael van Gerwen. The scheduled match-ups included Luke Humphries v Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price v Luke Littler. Two of the three players yet to win a night in this year’s Premier League meet were still searching for a first-night victory as Humphries prepared to take the oche.
Humphries said his averages felt decent but that bad doubling had been the problem; he added that finishing was letting him down and that he had to avoid panicking about it. Van Veen said games between them were always close and that he expected to have to play well against Humphries because Humphries “puts you under pressure in every leg. ” Those lines framed a matchup that mixed form, rivalry and the tactical edge of who starts.
For now, the immediate fact is simple: Luke Humphries returns to the stage at Motorpoint Arena to face Gian van Veen in Week Six of the Premier League Darts in Nottingham. The night proceeds with the quarter-final and evening matches already laid out, and live coverage begins from 7: 00 pm ET.
