October 14th 2024.
Mike De Dekker has just been named the new World Grand Prix champion. It's a title he never thought he would hold, especially after nearly giving up on his dart throwing career in recent years. But after a stunning performance on Sunday night, he can now proudly call himself a major champion.
The 28-year-old Belgian caused a major upset by beating world number one Luke Humphries with a score of 6-4 in the final held in Leicester. This was by far the biggest achievement in his career so far. But it wasn't just the final that showcased his talent - he had a string of impressive wins leading up to it. He defeated the likes of Damon Heta, Gary Anderson, James Wade, and Dimitri van den Bergh, proving that he was a force to be reckoned with.
De Dekker's success is even more remarkable considering that he was a 200-1 underdog at the start of the tournament. He had dropped off the tour from 2018-2020 and at that time, he didn't believe he was good enough to compete at the highest level. But his determination and hard work paid off as he showed the world that he was more than capable of winning a major title.
In a post-match press conference, De Dekker admitted that he was overcome with emotion and had been crying backstage. He couldn't believe that he had won and was at a loss for words. He had never doubted his ability to win, but he didn't want to think about it too much. However, at one point during the game, when he was leading 4-1, he allowed himself to believe that he was close to victory. But then Humphries fought back, making it a close game. De Dekker, however, managed to stay calm and ultimately came out on top.
Reflecting on his journey, De Dekker shared that five years ago, he had lost his tour card and was on the verge of giving up. He had lost in the first round for four days straight and felt like he couldn't go through that experience again. But now, he is a major champion and couldn't be happier.
When asked about his future plans, De Dekker said he would approach every major tournament with the same mindset and see where it takes him. He also mentioned that he didn't feel ready for the Premier League just yet, as it would be a tough competition against the top eight players in the world. But if he were to receive an invitation, he would gladly accept it.
Humphries, on the other hand, was the hot favorite to defend his title. But he graciously accepted defeat and praised De Dekker's performance, stating that he showed a lot of resilience and composure in his first major final. He also recognized that he had missed many opportunities and his doubles were not up to par. In the end, he believed that the better player won the game and he deserved to be the runner-up.
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