Humphries fights back to beat Wattimena and clinch Players Championship 17

Humphries reacts
Humphries reactsGodfrey Pitt / ČTK / imago sportfotodienst

Luke Humphries beat Jermaine Wattimena 8-4 in the Players Championship 17 final in Leicester on Monday night.

The match looked to be going Wattimena's way as the Dutchman raced into a 2-0 lead, but 'Cool Hand' held firm to secure his second ProTour title this year.

Humphries averaged 104.74 across the tournament and finished with an average just under 105 in the final, underlining a return to form ahead of next week’s Premier League play-offs in London.

“When it clicks for me, it clicks for me. When it does, I think people see I’m one of the best players in the world," Humphries said.

“It sets a standard for myself. I can do this a lot more. It’s just up to me to provide it a lot more than I do.

“I remember thinking throughout parts of the day that I felt like I just couldn’t miss, and that’s always a dangerous person when you feel like that.”

Humphries started his day with a 6-3 win over Rhys Griffin, averaging 112.18, before posting further ton-plus averages against Yorick Hofkens, Justin Hood and Christian Kist.

'Cool Hand' then beat Wessel Nijman 6-3 and Danny Noppert 7-2 to reach the final.

Wattimena’s route included wins over Stephen Bunting and Kevin Doets, averaging more than 111 in his semi-final victory over the latter.

Results

Last 16

Wessel Nijman 6-5 Andrew Gilding

Luke Humphries 6-2 Christian Kist

Rob Owen 6-2 Maik Kuivenhoven

Danny Noppert 6-3 Ryan Searle

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 Ross Smith

Kevin Doets 6-2 Ross Smith

Stephen Bunting 6-5 Damon Heta

Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Quarter-finals

Luke Humphries 6-3 Wessel Nijman

Danny Noppert 6-5 Rob Owen

Kevin Doets 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Stephen Bunting

Semi-finals

Luke Humphries 7-3 Danny Noppert

Jermaine Wattimena 7-2 Kevin Doets

Final

Luke Humphries 8-4 Jermaine Wattimena

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