Stats Analysis: The numbers behind Mike De Decker's World Grand Prix win

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

In his latest column, PDC Stats Analyst Christopher Kempf analyses the key numbers behind Mike De Decker's remarkable BoyleSports World Grand Prix success in Leicester.

De Decker 'so proud' following BoyleSports World Grand Prix triumph

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

Mike De Decker admitted he was ‘lost for words’ after celebrating a famous BoyleSports World Grand Prix victory in Leicester on Sunday.

BoyleSports Boosts Bipolar UK Donation To £10,000 From World Grand Prix

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

BoyleSports has donated £10,000 to Bipolar UK after enhancing the total raised following a week of stellar darts at the BoyleSports World Grand Prix.

De Decker stuns Humphries to win 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

Mike De Decker produced the performance of his life to claim BoyleSports World Grand Prix glory, defeating Luke Humphries 6-4 n the final.

De Decker daring to dream at BoyleSports World Grand Prix

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

Mike De Decker insists he will relish the underdog tag when he takes on reigning champion Luke Humphries in tonight’s BoyleSports World Grand Prix final.

Humphries aiming to complete "incredible 12 months" in "dream final"

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

Luke Humphries believes that retaining the BoyleSports World Grand Prix title on Sunday would cap off "the most incredible 12 months".

Unplayable Humphries & deadly De Decker reach World Grand Prix final

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

Luke Humphries and Mike De Decker will contest the BoyleSports World Grand Prix final after shattering the hopes of Ryan Joyce and Dimitri Van den Bergh in Leicester.

Humphries odds-on for BoyleSports World Grand Prix glory ahead of semis

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

Luke Humphries is now the hot odds-on favourite at 4/9 with BoyleSports to successfully defend his World Grand Prix title ahead of an all-English semi-final clash in Leicester against Ryan Joyce.

Humphries battles on as Belgian duo & Joyce reach World Grand Prix semis

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

The 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix continues on Friday with all four quarter-final ties taking place at the Mattioli Arena, Leicester.

Wade slashed into third favourite at BoyleSports World Grand Prix

BoyleSports World Grand Prix

James Wade is now rated the third favourite to win the BoyleSports World Grand Prix in Leicester, after the sponsor slashed his odds into 13/2 from 20/1.

2023 BoyleSports World Grand Prix
October 2-8, Morningside Arena, Leicester
Session Schedule
Monday October 2
First Round x8

Brendan Dolan 2-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode (0-3, 3-1, 3-0)
Gary Anderson 2-1 Jose de Sousa (2-3, 3-0, 3-2)
Krzysztof Ratajski 2-1 James Wade (1-3, 3-0, 3-2)
Martin Schindler 2-1 Raymond van Barneveld (3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
Stephen Bunting 2-1 Nathan Aspinall (3-1, 2-3, 3-2)
Gerwyn Price 2-0 Danny Noppert (3-2, 3-0)
Michael Smith 2-0 Callan Rydz (3-0, 3-1)
Andrew Gilding 2-1 Rob Cross (0-3, 3-1, 3-2)

Tuesday October 3
First Round x8

Joe Cullen 2-0 Mike De Decker (3-2, 3-1)
Luke Woodhouse 2-0 Dave Chisnall (3-1, 3-2)
Ryan Searle 2-1 Damon Heta (2-3, 3-0, 3-2)
Chris Dobey 2-0 Dimitri Van den Bergh (3-2, 3-2)
Peter Wright 2-0 Gabriel Clemens (3-1, 3-1)
Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Josh Rock (3-1, 3-0)
Ross Smith 2-0 Jonny Clayton (3-1, 3-2)
Luke Humphries 2-0 Daryl Gurney (3-1, 3-2)
 
Wednesday October 4
Second Round x4

Andrew Gilding 3-2 Gary Anderson (0-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1)
Martin Schindler 3-2 Stephen Bunting (0-3, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1)
Gerwyn Price 3-0 Krzysztof Ratajski (3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
Michael Smith 3-0 Brendan Dolan (3-1, 3-1, 3-0)
 
Thursday October 5
Second Round x4

Luke Humphries 3-0 Luke Woodhouse (3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
Peter Wright 3-1 Ryan Searle (1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-0)
Chris Dobey 3-2 Michael van Gerwen (3-1, 0-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0)
Joe Cullen 3-1 Ross Smith (3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2)

Friday October 6
Quarter-Finals

Gerwyn Price 3-0 Martin Schindler (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Michael Smith 3-0 Andrew Gilding (3-1, 3-0, 3-2)
Luke Humphries 3-2 Peter Wright (1-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Joe Cullen 3-2 Chris Dobey (3-0, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)

Saturday October 7
Semi-Finals

Gerwyn Price 4-2 Michael Smith (3-2, 2-3, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0)
Luke Humphries 4-0 Joe Cullen (3-1, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2)

Sunday October 8
Final

Luke Humphries 5-2 Gerwyn Price (1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2)

Tournament Bracket
(1) Michael Smith v Callan Rydz
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Brendan Dolan
(8) Rob Cross v Andrew Gilding
Jose de Sousa v Gary Anderson
(4) Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Krzysztof Ratajski v James Wade
(5) Nathan Aspinall v Stephen Bunting
Martin Schindler v Raymond van Barneveld
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Josh Rock
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Chris Dobey
(7) Jonny Clayton v Ross Smith
Joe Cullen v Mike De Decker
(3) Peter Wright v Gabriel Clemens
Damon Heta v Ryan Searle
(6) Luke Humphries v Daryl Gurney
Dave Chisnall v Luke Woodhouse

Format
First Rounds - Best of 3 sets
Second Round - Best of 5 sets
Quarter-Finals - Best of 5 sets
Semi-Finals - Best of 7 sets
Final - Best of 9 sets

Prize Fund
Winner - £120,000
Runner-Up - £60,000
Semi-Finalists - £40,000
Quarter-Finalists - £25,000
Second Round Losers - £15,000
First Round Losers - £7,500
Total - £600,000

Luke Humphries produced the performance of his career to claim BoyleSports World Grand Prix glory in Leicester on Sunday, overcoming Gerwyn Price 5-2 in a thrilling final.

Former World Youth Champion Humphries, 28, claimed his first televised ranking title and £120,000 with the triumph, and also moves above Price to a career-high fourth on the PDC Order of Merit.

Price had been bidding to win his second World Grand Prix title as he competed in a third final in four years - and made a brilliant start to win the first set without reply.

Humphries, though, took nine of the next 11 legs in a three-set burst which turned the game on its head and moved him 3-1 up at Leicester's Morningside Arena.

Price defied a 170 from Humphries to hit back by winning the fifth set in a decider, but the next two went to the Englishman as he went on to seal a memorable triumph with a sensational 138 checkout.

"I've imagined this moment for my whole career - it's very emotional," admitted Humphries, who averaged 93.30 in the double-start format in the final.

"Regardless of anything else I've done in my career, that was the greatest game I've ever played in my life.

"That 138 is probably one of the best shots I've ever seen in my career, let alone [to win] the title. If I didn't hit that, we go off to the break and Gezzy feels that he's back in the game.

"I couldn't have picked a better ending for my first major title. I think a lot of people wrote me off tonight, they thought Gezzy would steamroll me, but I've got a bit of bottle about me, I have got the ability to play well.

"As much as I played well, that was a great final and I think Gezzy played his part there. He was a massive part of such a great game and credit goes to him."

Price punished some nervy starting doubles from Humphries in set one, taking the set without reply, before a sparkling 12-darter - which featured just ten scoring darts - saw the Englishman get off the mark in set two.

Humphries took the set 3-1 and matched that score in set three, despite an 11-darter from Price, before taking the fourth without reply to move 3-1 up in the match.

Humphries opened the fifth with a rousing 170 checkout, but Price responded with a 117 checkout and punished misses from his rival to claim the set in a decider to hit back.

The sixth set also went to a deciding leg, with the pair trading 180s before Humphries pinned double eight to move 4-2 up and close in on glory.

Price led 1-0 and 2-1 in the seventh set, but Humphries levelled and then took out an unforgettable 138 checkout to seal the title.

Humphries had lost in the 2021 UK Open final, but has made sustained progress up the rankings since - producing a string of successes on the European Tour to consolidate his stage experience.

"I said [after the semi-finals] that we will see what Luke Humphries is made of tomorrow; whether I've got or I ain't - and I think I proved now to myself that I have got it," he added.

"Sometimes in my career, my Achilles heel has been my doubles and it's quite funny that the major championship I pick up is the double start!

"I think this is the first in a lot [of titles] that will come over the years, but we're in an era where there's so many great players and these are hard to come by.

"I dedicate this to my dad, because without him I wouldn't be here right now. It's been 13, 14 years since I first picked up a dart and now I'm a major champion.

"I've worked extremely hard in the last few years, lost a lot of weight, battled many things in my head to get to this point and it makes it all worth it having this trophy."

Price averaged 91 in reply to Humphries, and the Welshman hit half of his attempts at a starting double and 52% of his finishing doubles as he fought bravely to regain the coveted trophy.

However, the Welshman admitted: "I'm absolutely gutted.

"I didn't help myself early on. Luke played fantastic and he's a worthy winner. I think I played better than him tonight, he just played really well at the right times.

"Fair play to Luke, he deserves the win."

Set-by-set: Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries
First Set - 3-1

Humphries misses his opening three darts at a starting double in the first two legs, with Price capitalising with double ten and 76, before taking out 80 to win the set without reply.
Second Set - 1-3
Humphries opens set two with a sparkling 12-dart leg which only features ten scoring darts - landing two 180s and a 109 finish. Price levels with a 96 finish to punish four misses at tops from Humphries, who takes the next two legs on double nine and tops - for a 13-darter - to level the tie.
Third Set - 1-3
Humphries lands another maximum in a 12-darter to open set three, before punishing a miss from Price with double ten. The Welshman responds with a superb 11-dart finish, but double 18 sees Humphries move ahead in the match.
Fourth Set 0-3
Humphries' charge continues as he wins the fourth set without reply to move 3-0 up in the game, with Price missing tops in the opening leg before double ten, double 16 and double two see the former World Youth Champion capitalise.
Fifth Set - 3-2
A first set of the night goes the full distance as Price hits back - despite seeing Humphries power in a 170 checkout in the opening leg. The roles were reversed in leg two as four misses at double 19 from Humphries allow Price in for a 117 finish, and after the next two legs are shared on tops, Humphries' miss allows the Welshman in to steal the set on double 12.
Sixth Set - 2-3
Humphries moves a set away from glory by withstanding Price's fightback in the sixth set. Finishes of 96 and 66 put Humphries two legs up, with Price levelling only for the Englishman to pile in a 180 to be first to a finish - with a maximum from Price unable to prevent double four restoring a two-set cushion.
Seventh Set - 2-3
Double 18 gives Price the opening leg, and after Humphries levels the 2020 winner finishes 86 on the bull to move 2-1 up. Double five sees Humphries level to leave himself within touching distance of glory, and a brilliant 138 checkout gives him a first TV title.

Drawboard