Mike de Decker Defeats Luke Humphries: World Grand Prix Upset

Mike de Decker pulled off a stunning upset by defeating defending champion Luke Humphries 6-4 to win the World Grand Prix title. The Belgian, a 200-1 outsider at the start of the tournament withstood a late fightback from the world number one to claim victory in his first major final and the £120,000 prize. De Decker, 28, quickly surged to a 4-1 lead but faced nerves when Humphries leveled the match at 4-4.

However, he composed himself to clinch two consecutive sets for the win. “The way Luke has been playing over the last year has been brilliant. I have no words; I’m so happy,” he said. Reflecting on his journey, he mentioned losing his tour card and being supported by family and friends, crediting them for his success. Despite being the underdog, De Decker triumphed over four opponents with a combined total of 26 major titles.

His remarkable victories featured wins over prominent players like Gary Anderson and James Wade. In the final, he maintained an average of 92.06 and recorded 16 180s. Humphries entered the final as the favorite after a dominant 5-0 victory over Ryan Joyce in the semifinals. He struggled early on, needing to survive a set dart in the opener and missing three darts at doubles in the next set.

Though he fought back with impressive finishes of 149 and 152 to level the match, he ultimately fell short as Mike de Decker regained his composure. Humphries, who has enjoyed significant success since winning his first major title last year, acknowledged De Decker’s performance: “He showed so much bottle.” Despite the loss, Humphries remains a formidable competitor, having won multiple major tournaments over the past year.