Luke Humphries secured his Premier League play-off spot with a sparkling victory in Birmingham, ending Luke Littler's 10-match winning streak before beating Gerwyn Price in the final at the Utilita Arena.
The defending champion had struggled for much of the league phase but has come good when it mattered. His win means the top four is sewn up ahead of next week's final league round in Sheffield, with Humphries joining Littler, Jonny Clayton and Price at the O2 on May 28.
Seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen misses out for a second successive year, while debutant Gian van Veen's campaign will also end in Sheffield, along with Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock.
Humphries said: "It's relief. You see from the way I felt at the end. It's been a struggle this year. I've worked incredibly hard, changed to my old points, my old flights, and it worked for me. I'm just incredibly proud of myself, probably the most proud I've ever been in my life."
In the semi-final, Humphries was staring at defeat as Littler had two darts at his favourite double 10 to go 4-0 up in the race to six. But he surprisingly missed, and Humphries rattled off six legs in a row to stun his rival. He then followed up with a 6-4 victory over Price to earn his first weekly win and seal his place in London.
Price's run to the final ensured he will finish the league stage in third place. The Welshman, who withdrew from last week's event in Leeds due to illness, guaranteed his trip to the capital with victories over Dutch pair Van Gerwen and Van Veen.
