Mike De Decker shocks world No 1 Luke Humphries to win the World Grand Prix darts final
- Mike De Decker defeated Luke Humphries in the final of the World Grand Prix on Sunday
- De Decker started the tournament as 36th in the PDC Order of Merit and was unseeded
- The 28-year-old had never reached the last sixteen at a major tournament
Belgian Mike De Decker held off defending champion Luke Humphries to win the World Grand Prix final 6-4 in Leicester and claim his first major title.
De Decker – the first Belgian to reach a World Grand Prix final after beating compatriot Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semi-final – surged into a 4-1 lead before the world number one rallied to level the match .
But the 28-year-old held his nerve in the double-to-start match and won the next two sets to clinch the title.
The pair traded the first two sets, both going to deciding legs, before De Decker broke clear.
He claimed set three without Humphries getting a leg on the board.
Belgian Mike de Decker defeated Luke Humphries, number 1 in the world, in the final of the World Grand Prix darts
Humphries found himself needing to break to save the fourth set but struggled to get to a double as De Decker grabbed a stunning 154 finish to open a 3-1 lead as the players went into the break.
De Decker looked nervous as he failed to knock out eight, while Humphries eventually cleared five to level the fifth set at 2-2. However, the Belgian regrouped for the deciding leg and scored double 16 after a solid score, extending his lead to 4-1.
Despite appearing to be on the brink of defeat, Humphries eventually came alive, knocking out first 149 and then an excellent 152 to level the sixth set at 2-2 before ‘Cool Hand’ rounded off the 50 to close the deficit to reduce.
The momentum stayed with the defending champions in set seven. De Decker missed chances on both doubles 16 and eight, before Humphries rose to the top and regained another set at 4-3.
In the eighth set, Humphries narrowly missed a 170 big fish finish, hitting 25 with his final dart, allowing De Decker to force a decisive leg.
Despite breaking for the first time in need of 67, the world No. 1 knocked it out a second time to level the match.
Humphries was the big favourite, but was unable to add a new trophy to his collection
After Humphries again struggled to score a double to start the fourth leg of the ninth set, De Decker stopped the rot as he finished at 80 to get back in front at 5-4 as the players went backstage for a new break.
De Decker took a 2-1 lead in the 10th set and had the darts to claim the title. However, Humphries finished first at 120 – landing double 10 to break back and force another deciding leg.
While Humphries’ heavy score faltered, a precision 180 from De Decker set up 55, which he knocked out in two darts and hit a double top for a memorable end to his first televised final.