Luke Humphries continued his Leicester love-affair to clinch his fourth Players Championship title of the campaign on Wednesday.

Humphries defeated Niels Zonneveld 8-4 to celebrate Players Championship 33 glory, as he made his first appearance at the Mattioli Arena since lifting his second World Grand Prix title last month.

The 31-year-old has now prevailed in three of his four Players Championship appearances in Leicester this season, marking the perfect preparation for the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts.

“The way I’ve been the last few weeks, it’s an unexpected win for myself,” admitted Humphries, who was forced to withdraw from the recent European Championship through illness.

“It was more about coming back and seeing what my energy levels were like, because I’ve been very ill the past few weeks.

“I’d never miss a major if I could play. I was devastated. I was on a good run after winning the World Grand Prix.

“Four Players Championship wins, a Euro Tour, the World Grand Prix, a win on the World Series; I’ve done some good things this year.

“I think my yearly average is better than it’s ever been.

“I still want to win another major. If it’s not the Grand Slam or Players Championship Finals, then I want it to be the World Championship.

“That’s the thing I really search for now, is to try and put my name in the legacy of some of the greatest there has ever been.

“I am far away from that yet, so I need to try and win a lot more.”

Newbury born and bred Humphries started with a 6-2 win over Thatcham’s rising star Archie Self - who hit a 170 checkout - then beat Darius Labanauskas and Tom Bissell, averaging 106 and 110 in the process.

The world number three maintained his charge with back-to-back 6-2 victories against Steve Lennon and Gerwyn Price, before defying a 106.75 average from Gary Anderson to triumph in an epic semi-final.

Humphries produced a brace of 12-dart breaks to seize the initiative against Zonneveld in Wednesday’s showpiece, before capping off a classy display with an 11-dart hold to triumph with a 103.77 average.