Joyce's Dream Hits Humphries Hurdle

Unplayable Humphries & deadly De Decker reach BoyleSports World Grand Prix final

Luke Humphries and Mike De Decker will contest the BoyleSports World Grand Prix final on Sunday, having shattered the hopes of Ryan Joyce and Dimitri Van den Bergh in Leicester.

Belgian ace De Decker began Saturday’s semi-finals by continuing his dream run at the Mattioli Arena with a 5-2 defeat of compatriot Van den Bergh to reach his first televised decider.

Humphries, though, stole the show with a mesmerising 5-0 rout of Ryan Joyce in one of the most stunning displays in the event’s history to remain on course to retain the title.

Humphries described Sunday’s contest as “a dream final” as he targets glory in his first defence of a televised ranking title – and goes into the tie in top form.

The World Champion had stared defeat in the face against Stephen Bunting in round one, but followed up further wins over Ricardo Pietreczko and Jonny Clayton with an unplayable display against Joyce.

Humphries averaged 100.30 and dropped just three legs across the five sets, finishing 60% of his doubles, starting at over 47% and landing eight 180s.

Joyce played his part, hitting 64% of his starting doubles and averaging over 94, but he was permitted just seven darts at a double by the rampant world number one.

Humphries won the opening set without reply to stamp his authority on the game immediately, and though Joyce landed two 12-darters to lead in set two it was the reigning champion who took the next three legs – including a 112 finish for a 12-dart break of throw – to double his advantage.

Joyce finished an 11-darter to pull back to 2-1 in the third set, but Humphries moved 3-0 up with a 144 checkout and bettered that with a 146 combination before landing a 110 checkout to sweep through the final two sets without reply.

“It felt special – 5-0 is quite flattering and it takes two to tango,” said Humphries, who needed less than 45 minutes on stage to storm into the final. “It was a performance which was very much needed – Ryan was brilliant himself there.

“I had to play that well but I am capable of these big performances and I believe in myself in these big moments.

“I relaxed a lot more tonight and I played my best, so if I do that tomorrow it could be an absolutely fantastic game because Mike’s playing well also.

“I think it’s a dream final, it really is. We’ve had so many battles and it’s going to be a good game. Mike’s playing well and I know I’m going to have to be at my best again.”

De Decker won through to his maiden TV final in style with a 5-2 win over compatriot Dimitri Van den Bergh in their all-Belgian semi-final.

UK Open champion Van den Bergh raced through the opening set without reply, but had no answer to a three-set blitz as De Decker pulled clear.

The second set went to a deciding leg as De Decker levelled the contest, before he won a further six straight legs – denying Van den Bergh a dart at a double in the game’s fourth set as he opened up a 3-1 cushion.

Van den Bergh opened set five with a sensational 170 finish for a 12-darter, with De Decker responding with two bullseyes to complete a 120 combination before the former Premier League star completed legs of 13 and 14 darts to take the set and halve the deficit.

De Decker, though, fired in a huge 150 checkout in set six, which was sandwiched by a brace of double 16 finishes as he moved 4-2 up and a set away from the final.

Van den Bergh took the seventh set’s opening leg, but missed doubles proved costly as De Decker edged ahead before completing a 13-darter to seal a memorable triumph.

De Decker has dropped just three sets during four games to become the first Belgian to reach the World Grand Prix final, having seen off Damon Heta, Gary Anderson and James Wade during a famous week at the Mattioli Arena.

“I’m over the moon – really, really happy,” said De Decker, who admitted that the all-Belgian contest was a huge test.

“In the beginning of the game I was really nervous. There’s been so much attention on this game and when I took the second set I relaxed, knowing that I can still play.

“Dimitri had a couple of sets where he wasn’t starting off and I took advantage.

“I’m loving the feeling of winning, the crowd have given me so much support and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final will begin from 2000 BST, with Humphries aiming to become only the third player to retain the title, while De Decker is bidding to be only the second Belgian star to win a televised PDC event.

Humphries is the huge 1/6 favourite with sponsors BoyleSports going into Sunday’s final, with De Decker the 4/1 outsider to claim the £120,000 top prize.

The BoyleSports World Grand Prix is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding subscribers based in the UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).