2024 World Grand Prix Darts: Luke Humphries Draws Parallels Between De Decker Bout and World Final vs. Luke Littler

In a stunning turn of events at the 2024 World Grand Prix, Belgium’s Mike De Decker has emerged as an unlikely hero, reaching his first-ever PDC televised ranking final. 

However, his challenge in the final will be monumental: he’s set to face none other than the current world number one and defending champion, Luke Humphries. 

This match promises to be an electrifying clash, with both players bringing unique narratives to the stage.

Before the tournament began, De Decker was ranked 36th in the order of merit, leaving punters and even Humphries sceptical about his chances of making it this far.

Yet, with each passing match, De Decker proved the doubters wrong, displaying skill and determination that have captivated fans and pundits alike.

For both competitors, the final represents a new frontier. De Decker is navigating uncharted territory, having never reached this stage before. On the other hand, Humphries is accustomed to the high-pressure environment of finals, facing the biggest stars in darts. 

Despite this, even Humphries admitted he never expected to find himself squaring off against the Belgian in tonight’s decisive match.

Post-match, Humphries shared his thoughts on the challenges of preparing for an opponent like De Decker, who is likely to approach the stage with a carefree attitude. 

“I’ll be honest, you just wouldn’t expect you’d be playing him [Mike De Decker] in the final. There are so many great players before that,” he told SportsBoom.com, highlighting the unpredictability of the tournament.

“But if you look at the way he’s played, then you told me about his stats before, I’d said, well, I expect him to make the final. I think he’s been great.” 

He did, however, suggest that De Decker may not have been at his best in the semi-finals, noting, “He probably wasn’t at his best tonight. I think Dimitri maybe gave him too many chances. Maybe he tried too hard, he just wasn’t at his best. But if I push him, he might go back to his best.”

Despite the challenge ahead, Humphries plans to leverage his finals experience to his advantage. “The experience sometimes can tell in the end, but we’ll see what happens.”

Image credit: PDC

When asked about the significance of facing a lower-ranked player in a major final, Humphries reflected on his previous World Championship final against teenage sensation, Luke Littler, who at the time was unranked. 

“When I played Luke [Littler] in the final world, I generally just believed that it was never going to be a poor performance,” he said oozing confidence. 

However, he expressed a different sentiment regarding De Decker. “Whereas for Mike [De Decker], I don’t know what performance I’m going to get tomorrow, and I think he probably feels the same.”

“Sometimes I’m untouchable, sometimes I’m very beatable. I just think we’re both going to go into the game, very open-minded, believing we both can win.”