Luke Humphries surprised by Mike De Decker in traditional World Grand Prix darts last
Mike De Decker held off a fightback from darts king Luke Humphries to win the World Grand Prix final in a classic contest.
De Decker – the first Belgian to reach a World Grand Prix final after beating compatriot Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semis – surged into a 4-1 lead before the world number one and defending champion rallied to level the match. But the 28-year-old held his nerve in the double-to-start contest, winning the next two sets to clinch his first major title 6-4.
The pair traded the opening two sets, which both went to deciding legs, before De Decker broke clear. He claimed set three without Humphries getting a leg on the board in Leicester.
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Humphries found himself needing to break to save the fourth set but struggled to get off on a double as De Decker took out a magnificent 154 finish to open up a 3-1 lead as the players went into the interval. De Decker then looked nervous when failing to take out eight as Humphries eventually cleared off five to level the fifth set at 2-2.
The Belgian, though, recomposed himself for the deciding leg, nailing double 16 after some solid scoring to extend his advantage at 4-1. Despite appearing on the verge of defeat, Humphries finally sparked into life – taking out first 149 and then a superb 152 to level the sixth set at 2-2 before ‘Cool Hand’ finished off 50 to reduce the deficit.
(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Momentum remained with the defending champion in set seven. De Decker missed chances on both doubles 16 and eight before Humphries landed tops to claw back another set at 4-3. In the eighth set, Humphries narrowly missed a 170 ‘big fish’ finish, hitting 25 with his final dart, which allowed De Decker to force a deciding leg.
Despite having first bust when needing 67, the world number one took it out second time around to level the match. After Humphries again struggled to get a double to start the fourth leg of the ninth set, De Decker stopped the rot as he finished up 80 to edge back in front at 5-4 as the players headed backstage for another break.
De Decker forged a 2-1 lead in the 10th set and had the darts to claim the title. Humphries, though, was first to a finish at 120 – and landed double 10 to break back and force yet another deciding leg. As Humphries’ heavy scoring faltered, a precision 180 from De Decker set up 55 – which he took out in two darts, hitting double top for a memorable finish to his first televised final.
