World Grand Prix: Mike De Decker shocks Luke Humphries in epic last to clinch title

Shock finalist Mike De Decker shocked world No 1 Luke Humphries 6-4 to win his maiden World Grand Prix title on the Mattioli Enviornment in Leicester on Sunday.

The 28-year-old from Belgium had received by means of to his maiden televised last with a sequence of excellent shows within the double-start match, and scooped the £120,000 high prize following an exciting last.

Humphries had come into the ultimate because the overwhelming favorite to retain his title after an excellent 2024, and a wide ranging 5-0 semi-final victory towards Ryan Joyce, however was unable to match a composed show from the good Belgian.

The world champion was outplayed for almost all of the evening by De Decker, who accomplished a dream run by means of the match and claimed a momentous first televised title in type.

“I’m so proud,” mentioned De Decker. “It feels superb – I am over the moon; I have been actually pleased with my efficiency all week, however this tops it off.

“Luke has been an outstanding champion for the final 12 months and he is such a pleasant individual.

“The best way Luke has been enjoying since final 12 months is simply good and being the person who beats him this weekend, in a last, choosing up this trophy; I am so completely happy!

“I was cool in patches. In the beginning I was really nervous, then I calmed down and went 4-1 up. When he came back to 4-4 I started to get nervous again but I did it.”

The pair traded the opening two units, which each went to deciding legs, earlier than De Decker broke clear.

He claimed set three with out Humphries getting a leg on the board.

Humphries discovered himself needing to interrupt to save lots of the fourth set however struggled to get off on a double as De Decker took out a powerful 154 end to open up a 3-1 lead because the gamers went into the interval.

De Decker then appeared nervous when failing to take out eight as Humphries finally cleared off 5 to stage the fifth set at 2-2. The Belgian, although, recomposed himself for the deciding leg, nailing double 16 after some stable scoring to increase his benefit at 4-1.

Regardless of showing on the verge of defeat, Humphries lastly sparked into life – taking out first 149 after which an excellent 152 to stage the sixth set at 2-2 earlier than ‘Cool Hand’ completed off 50 to scale back the deficit.

Momentum remained with the defending champion in set seven. De Decker missed probabilities on each doubles 16 and eight earlier than Humphries landed tops to claw again one other set at 4-3.

Within the eighth set, Humphries narrowly missed a 170 ‘Huge Fish’ end, hitting 25 along with his last dart, which allowed De Decker to drive a deciding leg.

Regardless of having first bust when needing 67, the world No 1 took it out second time round to stage the match.

After Humphries once more struggled to get a double to start out the fourth leg of the ninth set, De Decker stopped the rot as he completed up 80 to edge again in entrance at 5-4 because the gamers headed backstage for one more break.

De Decker solid a 2-1 lead within the tenth set and had the darts to say the title. Humphries, although, was first to a end at 120 – and landed double 10 to interrupt again and drive yet one more deciding leg.

As Humphries’ heavy scoring faltered, a precision 180 from De Decker arrange 55 – which he took out in two darts, hitting double high for a memorable end to his first televised last.

De Decker’s success makes him solely the second Belgian – alongside Dimitri Van den Bergh – to style victory in a televised PDC occasion, and catapults him from thirty sixth to twenty fifth on the PDC Order of Benefit.

A gracious Humphries mentioned: “I’m obviously gutted to lose – I felt like I really was just on the wires of everything,” mentioned Humphries.

“It frustrating but I’m so proud of Mike, he showed so much bottle. I know how it felt like to be in that position a year ago and he looked as cool as anything.

“It wasn’t my evening and generally it’s a must to settle for that it’s not – however you have acquired an amazing champion and he is acquired a goal on his again now like I’ve acquired.

“He’s a fantastic guy, a great player. There’s a lot more big things to come from him after this.”

The Gary Anderson sport proved one thing to himself as a result of he really mentioned ‘I believed Gary was going to beat me’. He completely railroaded him. He was higher than Gary and he was higher than Luke Humphries in a sport that went to 45 legs of darts. He is acquired the bottle, he is acquired the composure, he is acquired the sport!

Story of the Tape

Roll of Honour

What stay darts is subsequent on Sky Sports activities?

Dwell darts returns to Sky Sports activities with the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton from November 9-17 as Luke Humphries seems to be to defend his title.

Consideration then turns to the flip of the 12 months and the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, starting on December 15, because the darts calendar continues to supply pleasure all year long – and you may take pleasure in the perfect right here stay on Sky Sports activities.

Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and shall be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.