Mike De Decker has won his first major prize with a stunt. In the final of the World Grand Prix in Leicester (Eng) he beat the world champion, defending champion and world number 1 Luke Humphries: 6-4. “I’m in seventh heaven,” replied De Decker. “Mike is a great champion,” Humphries said.
The World Grand Prix is very important in darts where players not only win a match by throwing out doubles, but also have to throw in doubles to score. A real thing Mike Decker he can now call himself an expert.
In the final it went to a best of 11 (the player who won 6 sets first won the match).
De Decker started his first grand final without any major nerves. He looked unbeaten and raced to a 4-1 lead against world number 1 Luke Humphries.
The world champion had a hard time finding his feet. Humphries was a wholesaler, but he wouldn’t allow himself to be led into killing either. “Cool Hand Luke” fought his way back into the game and made it 4-4.
Up and about? No, because De Decker fought back and took the lead again: 5-4.
And then it ended surprisingly in the 10th set.
With a score of 180 (his 16th in the final!) he reached 55. A piece of cake for a man in shape. With 15 and double 20, De Decker launched himself to his first major final victory, good for a check for 120,000 pounds (143,430 euros).
While before this edition of the World Grand Prix he had never reached the finals 1 / 8th at the highest level.
“I’m so happy!”
“This surpasses everything, I’m on cloud nine,” said Mike De Decker immediately after his victory.
“I was calm during the warm-up, but at the beginning of the match I became very nervous,” the 28-year-old darts player tells the story of his final.
“After that it got better. Until Lucas came back from 4-1 to 4-4. All of a sudden he started making all these finishes. I thought, ‘Come on go on, man. Stop that,” laughs De Decker.
“But hey, I did it. All credit to Luke though. He’s been amazing this year and he’s a friendly guy.”
“It’s unbelievable that I can beat him here, in the final. I’m so happy,” he finished the interview on stage.
I am very proud of Mike. He has shown so many balls.
Luke Humphries
“Of course I’m disappointed that I lost. It wasn’t the evening and then you have to accept it,” said losing finalist Luke Humphries, who continued his response with nice words for Mike De Decker.
“I am very proud of Mike. We have known each other for more than 10 years. He has shown so many “balls”, he has remained so calm,” said the world champion.
“Mike is a great champion. From now on everyone will want to beat him, just like me. All credit to him.”
“He’s a great guy and a great player. I think we’re going to see a lot of good things from Mike, or you wouldn’t be doing this.”
“Although I hope he doesn’t win too many more titles,” Humphries laughed.
| World Grand Prix 2024: final figures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Luke Humphries | Mike Decker | |
| sets | 4 | 6 |
| feet | 20 | 25 |
| 180 | 14 | 16 |
| +140 | 38 | 47 |
| +100 | 96 | 89 |
| checkouts | 20/53 (38%) | 25/59 (42%) |
| maximum checkout | 152 | 156 |
| average 3 arrows | 90,56 | 92,06 |
I’m on cloud nine.
Mike Decker
|
sets |
|
|---|---|
|
Luke Humphries (England) |
4 |
|
Mike Decker (Bel) |
6 |
Decker does it! He wins the World Grand Prix
With the 30th 180 score in this final, De Decker is 55 points shy of the final victory. And he does it!
De Decker is the second Belgian to win a major in the PDC federation.
Another leg for the De Decker
With 2×180 Mike De Decker is within a step of the final victory! It’s 2-1 ahead at 5-4.
Whoever wins 6 sets will take home the World Grand Prix trophy.
Will he stay in England? Or will he cross the Channel to Belgium?
De Decker within 1 set of the final victory
Mike De Decker throws himself on the scoreboard again. He leads 5 sets to 4.
One more and he instantly wins his first grand final. And that against the defending champion, world champion and world number 1 Luke Humphries.
Humphries is equal: 4-4
After 4 sets in a row for De Decker, Humphries wins 3 in a row. The score is 4-4 in this high quality final.
Who will win this thriller?
20×180
Mike De Decker recorded the 20th highest score of this final.
the bull’s eye
Mike De Decker wins the first leg of the 8 set with a bull’s eye.
Humphries runs in: 4-3
Luke Humphries is back in the final. Gradually the world champion gets back on track and makes it 4-3.
With a finish of 156, De Decker wins the first leg in the 7th set: 2-1.
The 14th 180 of the match goes to Mike De Decker.
Humphries fights back into the game: 4-2
After 4 sets for De Decker, Humphries can win another set. The Englishman had to sweat there. With a few good checkouts he goes from 0-2 to 3-2.
Humphries understands that he escaped from the first match ball for De Decker.
13×180
The highest score is flying around our ears. Decker answers the 180 with 180.
Both men have donated a total of 13 pieces.
4-1 for De Decker!
It took some effort, but it does it. Mike De Decker wins his 4th set in a row.
2 more sets and he won the World Grand Prix.
Is it possible? Yes, that is possible. Luke Humphries isn’t reaching his peak, he’s dealing with rejection.
2024-10-13 21:20:00
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