Luke Humphries and Mike De Decker have advanced to the final of the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, following victories over Ryan Joyce and Dimitri Van den Bergh in Leicester.
Belgian player De Decker started off the semi-finals on Saturday by defeating his compatriot Van den Bergh 5-2, earning his spot in his first televised final. Meanwhile, Humphries put on a spectacular display by defeating Joyce 5-0, showcasing his determination to defend his title.
Describing the upcoming final as “a dream final,” Humphries is aiming for glory in his first defense of a televised ranking title and is in top form leading up to the match.
Humphries had a tough start in the tournament, facing potential defeat against Stephen Bunting in the first round. However, he managed to secure wins against Ricardo Pietreczko and Jonny Clayton, before delivering an exceptional performance against Joyce in the semi-finals.
During the match, Humphries maintained an impressive average of 100.30, only dropping three legs across the five sets. He showcased remarkable accuracy on his doubles, finishing at 60%, starting at over 47%, and hitting eight 180s in the process.
Although Joyce played well, with a starting doubles percentage of 64% and an average of over 94, he was outplayed by the dominant Humphries, who limited his opponent to just seven darts at a double.
Humphries started strong by winning the opening set without giving Joyce a chance to respond. While Joyce managed to take the lead in set two with two 12-darters, Humphries quickly regained control by winning the next three legs, including a 112 finish for a 12-dart break of throw.
In the third set, Joyce clawed back with an 11-darter to reduce the deficit to 2-1. However, Humphries showed his class by securing a 144 checkout to go 3-0 up, and followed it up with a stunning 146 combination and a 110 checkout to seal the final two sets without dropping a leg.
Reflecting on his performance, Humphries expressed, “It felt special – 5-0 is quite flattering and it takes two to tango. It was a performance which was very much needed – Ryan was brilliant himself there.” Humphries’ dominance on stage allowed him to swiftly progress into the final in less than 45 minutes.
The stage is now set for the final showdown between Humphries and De Decker, as they strive for the ultimate prize at the BoyleSports World Grand Prix.