Luke Humphries (left) and Luke Littler are first and second respectively in the PDC world rankings
World number one Luke Humphries narrowly secured his place at November’s Players Championship Finals, as reigning world champion Luke Littler voiced criticism of tournament officiating.
Humphries, 30, entered the day ranked 58th in the competition standings and faced potential elimination from the finals if he lost his opening match at Players Championship 34.
However, he achieved a 6-2 victory over Martijn Dragt of the Netherlands in the first round, securing his qualification before a 6-4 defeat to Rob Owen in the second round at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.
This event marked the culmination of 34 Players Championship tournaments held throughout the year. The top 64 players will now progress to the finals in Minehead, Somerset, scheduled for 21-23 November.
Littler, 18, secured his own qualification earlier this month with a victory at Players Championship 32.
He was absent from Wednesday’s Players Championship 33 due to traffic delays following a serious incident, and consequently missed the 11:00 GMT registration deadline.
It was later confirmed that a fatality had occurred on the M6.
Littler subsequently posted on Instagram: “Missed registration today for the pro tour, but someone sadly lost their life. Thinking of everyone.”
After reaching the last 32 on Thursday, before a 6-5 defeat in a deciding leg against Matt Campbell of Canada, he took to social media to criticize officials, alleging inconsistencies in applying late arrival rules to different players.
Littler wrote on Instagram: “Not the best day today but played some decent stuff.
“But really glad to hear from a few of the other players that people have been let in almost half an hour late for a pro tour but I can’t be two minutes late.
“Says a lot, one rule for one and one for another.”
BBC Sport has reached out to the PDC for comment regarding Littler’s allegations.
Wessel Nijman of the Netherlands defeated Luke Woodhouse of England 8-5 to claim the Players Championship 34 title.
Michael van Gerwen, the three-time world champion and current world number three, will not participate in the finals, having finished outside the top 64 in the rankings and absent from the last two events.