The Real Deal! Mike De Decker shocks Luke Humphries to win 2024 World Grand Prix title

Mike De Decker has made history and taken the title at the 2024 World Grand Prix, following a thrilling 6-4 victory over Luke Humphries in the final this Sunday evening in Leicester.

In a breakthrough run, De Decker had eliminated Damon Heta in the first round, darts legend Gary Anderson was floored in the last sixteen. The two-time world champion was dismissed 3-0 in sets by 'The Real Deal'. Then De Decker also proved too strong for James Wade 3-0 in sets, before the Belgian was then too strong for his compatriot Dimitri van den Bergh in the semis. For Humphries meanwhile, it wasn't until the semifinal match that the world champion showed his top form for the first time. After an absolute masterclass, Ryan Joyce was defeated 5-0 in sets. 'Cool Hand Luke' recorded an average of 100.30 in the process, which was only the second 100+ average ever in the semifinals of the World Grand Prix.

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It was Humphries that made the better start of the two as well. With De Decker somewhat nervy to open, Cool Hand Luke raced into a 2-0 lead in the opening set. De Decker wasn't going to just give the set away though and roared back to 2-2 before then even missing a dart to snatch it in the decider. After that chance passed De Decker by, Humphries punished to move 1-0 up.

Set 2 also went to a deciding leg, but this time it was the Belgian who was on hand to take his chance, punishing multiple missed set darts from Humphries to level terms. With that set win seemingly settling the first time major finalist, De Decker then went on a rampage, reeling off six of the next seven legs to add sets 3 and 4 to his lead in dominant fashion, moving 3-1 clear.

After then Belgian then moved 2-0 up in set 5, the contest threatened to really runaway from the world champion. Humphries though showed the kind of fight that made him world champion and as nerves returned to De Decker's game, missing numerous set darts, Humphries forced a deciding leg. In that fifth and final leg however, De Decker nailed double 16 last dart in hand, letting out a roar of relief as he moved 4-1 ahead.

Momentum was fully with The Real Deal as he powered to 2-0 up in set 6. Sadly for him though, Humphries had one of those five minutes spurts of pure greatness he's been known to produce over the last twelve months. At 2-0 down in the set, Humphries denied De Decker a set dart in leg 3 with a stunning 149 checkout. The next leg, De Decker again was waiting to pounce, but this time the Englishman rattled in a 152 checkout to force a fifth leg. Winning that too, Humphries pulled a set back at 4-2 down.

That spell of brilliance seemed to have really turned the tide of the contest as well. Racing 2-0 clear in set 7, Humphries looked to have regained control despite still trailing. Although a brilliant 156 out stopped the rot for De Decker in leg 3, the set went Humphries way as he moved back to within one.

From there, Humphries seemed the clear favourite. Credit to De Decker though, he hadn't exactly buckled despite seeing his advantage slip. In set 8, the Belgian came out fighting to take the opener and then fought back to force a decider after Humphries had moved 2-1 up. In the fifth leg though, it was the world champion who continued his momentum, levelling the match up at four sets apiece.

Again though, just when you though De Decker might crumble, he refused to simply let Humphries run wild, opening set 9 with a strong hold of throw. Although Humphries held his own in leg 2, a 14 dart hold followed by a 15 dart break saw De Decker immediately regain his set lead, moving just one away from a famous title win in the process.

Now just a set away from the biggest win of his live, would De Decker finally start to show some of his inexperience? Seemingly not! Although Humphries opened set 10 strongly, taking the first leg, De Decker bounced back to take the next two and move just one leg from the title. As the Belgian saw his trebles desert him however, Humphries sent the set to a decider with a 16-dart break on double 10. You could sense the tension in both players at this point, but it was De Decker who got to a finish first and with his very first matchdart, nailed double top for a 55 finish and the 2024 World Grand Prix title.

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