2 months ago
12
Mike de Decker caused a huge upset as he beat defending champion Luke Humphries 6-4 to win the World Grand Prix title.
The Belgian, a 150-1 outsider before the tournament, withstood a fightback from the world number one to triumph in his first major final.
Englishman Humphries was seeking his fifth televised ranking tournament since his first major victory, on this stage in Leicester a year ago.
But De Decker, 28, surged into a 4-1 lead and kept his cool after world champion Humphries levelled to clinch the £60,000 first prize.
"The way Luke has played this week has been incredible. I have no words, I'm so, so, so, so happy," said De Decker, who had never gone past the last 32 at a major event before.
"I was cool in patches. In the beginning, I was really nervous, then I calmed down. I was 4-1 up, he brought it back to 4-4. I started to get nerves again.
"I lost my card, wasn't on tour, got my card back. My best friend, mum, everyone, have all been behind me. Thanks to them I won this trophy."
De Decker, nicknamed The Real Deal, lifted the trophy and led the crowd in a rousing rendition of his walk-on song, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.
