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.
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.
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