Mike de Decker Reaches First Major Quarter-Final

Mike de Decker knocked Gary Anderson out of the World Grand Prix in Leicester with a surprising 3-0 victory. De Decker, averaging 96, dominated the match and reached his first major quarter-final. He took the first set by winning three consecutive legs with ease. Although Anderson briefly fought back by winning a leg, De Decker maintained control holding his throw twice and securing the second set with a clinical 120 finish.

In the third set, Mike de Decker sealed his victory with an impressive 160 checkout before holding his throw to close out the match. Afterward, he told Sky Sports, “It’s massive. I always had trouble bringing my floor game to the stage but it’s clicking this week. I hope I can keep this up.” De Decker now faces England’s James Wade in the quarter-finals. Wade advanced with a 3-0 win over Welshman Gerwyn Price.

Wade took the first set with a double 10 finish. Though Price appeared poised for a comeback at the start of the second set, he missed three attempts at tops allowing Wade to capitalize. Wade won the set after taking the first two legs, and despite Price reducing the deficit, the Englishman remained composed to claim the third set and the match. In other matches, England’s Joe Cullen edged out Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney in a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Cullen trailed 2-1 but took the fourth set with an impressive 79 finish including two double 18s before winning the deciding set. He will now face Belgium’s Dimitri Van den Bergh in the last eight. Van den Bergh recovered from losing the first set to England’s Dave Chisnall, winning 3-1 after sealing the victory with his sixth match dart at double top.