Mike De Decker pulled off one of the biggest shocks in darts history, defeating world no. 1 Luke Humphires 6-4 to clinch the World Grand Prix final.
Humphries, who had established his dominance in the sport by winning this tournament a year ago, seemed on the brink of defeat before staging an incredible comeback to challenge De Decker, who was undoubtedly the star of the tournament in Leicester.
The 29 year old Humphries quickly took a two-leg lead in the first set, but had to keep his cool to win the decider. De Decker had a chance at double 10 for an early advantage, but after hitting the wire, Humphries didn’t falter.
However, just as it appeared Humphries might take control, De Decker retaliated in another consecutive decider to even the score. The Belgian then controlled the third set, whitewashing the reigning world champion to go 2-1 up.
Signs of a comeback emerged in the fourth set when Humphries won the first leg, but De Decker soon regained control and extended his lead to 3-1, finishing the final leg with an impressive 154.
De Decker then led 2-0 in the fifth set, but succumbed to pressure, allowing Humphries to level the score as he missed six darts to win the set. However, the 28 year old managed to regain his composure in the deciding leg, capitalising on a trebleless visit from Humphries to extend his lead to 4-1.
Humphries appeared defeated in the next set, once again trailing 2-0. However, he demonstrated why he is often considered the world’s top darts player by staging an impressive comeback to secure his second set of the evening.
Firstly, he scored an astounding 149 to claw back a leg before equalising with an unbelievable 152 as De Decker waited on 66. He then checked out from 50 in the deciding leg to bring the score to 4-2 on sets.
In the following set, Humphries rallied to 4-3 as he surged to a 3-1 lead on legs, despite De Decker checking out 156 for his leg win. The pair exchanged victories in the subsequent set before Humphries checked out on 67 to even the game on sets.
De Decker halted Humphries’ reign to take a 5-4 lead when he checked out from 80 to clinch the ninth set 3-1. Needing to triumph in the final two sets of the match, Humphires started strongly to go 1-0 up in the tenth set.
However, De Decker equalised the set with a commanding leg with the throw before breaking Humphries to go 2-1 up. Humphries refused to be defeated easily and he punched in D10 to level the set.
But De Decker ultimately secured the victory his performance warranted when he checked out from 55 to become World Grand Prix champion. De Decker’s win makes him only the second Belgian to win a televised PDC event.
Humphries now heads to the Alexandra Palace next month with his pride and dominance over the sport slightly tarnished.
