Mike de Decker is the Real Deal: Belgian brilliance with first Players Championship title in Ricky Evans thumping

Mike de Decker is the Real Deal after a remarkably good display to down Ricky Evans 8-2 to win Players Championship 16 in Milton Keynes on Thursday afternoon.

De Decker adds to the cohort of Belgian winners and heartbreakingly denies Ricky Evans again. But with a 104 average in the final, the Belgian was too clinical and too good in the end. It is a superb day for De Decker and another first time winner is sealed on the ProTour.

Read also

Prize Money breakdown for 2024 Players Championship season with increased prize pool of £3,750,000

De Decker led early on pinning double 16 for 1-0. He continued to motor pinning back-to-back 180's to leave 141 to go 3-0 up. He missed the first dart for a nine-darter but Evans was nowhere near.

De Decker missed the second dart for 150 on treble 19 and Evans pinned double 10 to finally get on the board at 3-1. De Decker slammed in a last dart double 10 though to go 4-1 up.

A superb 137 checkout using two double 20's saw his nerveless foray continue as he went 5-1 up. His accuracy was scary as he hit double 10 for 6-1 with a 105 average.

A 112 checkout stopped the rot but it was only a hold for Evans. He missed bull for 127 to make it 6-3 and De Decker shut the door with an 80 checkout for 7-2. Evans couldn't hit 111 and De Decker produced a 56 checkout clean kill for the win 8-2.

Read also

These are the top 10 best Belgian darters of all time

Results Players Championship 16

Last 32

Mike De Decker 6 | 2 Dave Chisnall

Danny van Trijp 6 | 5 Pascal Rupprecht

Brendan Dolan 6 | 3 Damon Heta

Stephen Bunting 6 | 1 Ritchie Edhouse

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6 | 0 Andy Boulton

Gabriel Clemens 6 | 2 Jeffrey De Zwaan

Karel Sedlacek 6 | 4 Adam Warner

Ryan Joyce 6 | 3 Thibault Tricole

Luke Humphries 6 | 1 Kevin Doets

Kim Huybrechts 6 | 5 Jonny Clayton

Josh Rock 6 | 2 Florian Hempel

Cameron Menzies 6 | 5 Luke Littler

Ross Smith 6 | 4 Callan Rydz

Ricky Evans 6 | 4 William O'Connor

Connor Scutt 6 | 4 James Wade

Wesley Plaisier 6 | 1 Christian Kist

Last 16

Mike De Decker 6 | 4 Danny van Trijp

Brendan Dolan 6 | 4 Stephen Bunting

Gabriel Clemens 6 | 3 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Karel Sedlacek 6 | 4 Ryan Joyce

Luke Humphries 6 | 3 Kim Huybrechts

Cameron Menzies 6 | 3 Josh Rock

Ricky Evans 6 | 4 Ross Smith

Connor Scutt 6 | 4 Wesley Plaisier

Quarterfinals

Mike De Decker 6 | 5 Brendan Dolan

Karel Sedlacek 6 | 4 Gabriel Clemens

Luke Humphries 6 | 3 Cameron Menzies

Ricky Evans 6 | 5 Connor Scutt

Semi-final

Mike De Decker 7 | 5 Karel Sedlacek

Ricky Evans 7 | 4 Luke Humphries

Final

Mike De Decker (104.87) 8 | 2 (94.1) Ricky Evans