2024 World Grand Prix Darts: Mike De Decker into His First-Ever Televised Final

Belgian friends, now rivals Dimitri Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker faced off in a historic semi-final clash at the 2024 World Grand Prix, marking a significant moment for both players and Belgian darts. 

For De Decker, it was his maiden appearance in a televised PDC semi-final, while Van den Bergh entered his 10th at this level, bringing his wealth of experience to the stage.

This encounter also set a new milestone, as it was the first time two Belgian players had reached the semi-finals of a PDC televised event. 

But only one could secure a place in the final, as the match unfolded in a race to five sets, under the tournament’s distinctive ‘double in, double out’ format.

De Decker had been one of the standout performers of the tournament, boasting an impressive average of 93. However, Van den Bergh’s tally of 19 180s heading into the semi-final highlighted his scoring power.

From the outset, the Leicester crowd made their loyalties clear, rallying behind the lower-ranked De Decker. 

Boos greeted Van den Bergh’s missed shots, while cheers erupted for De Decker’s successes. 

Despite the hostile atmosphere, Van den Bergh remained composed, taking the opening set to secure a 1-0 lead, which included two 180s in the third leg.

Image credit: PDC

The second set proved to be a much closer contest, but De Decker managed to level the match by claiming a set of his own.

Momentum quickly shifted in De Decker’s favour, as he followed up with a dominant whitewash in the third set. 

Van den Bergh, known as 'Dancing Dimi,' seemed unsettled, while ‘The Real Deal’ De Decker stormed ahead to take a 2-1 lead.

De Decker’s dominance continued into the fourth set, where he delivered yet another whitewash, winning his seventh consecutive leg and taking full control as he cruised towards what seemed like an inevitable spot in the final.

Van den Bergh rediscovered his rhythm in the fifth set, delivering a series of impressive legs, 12, 13, and 14 darts to win the set and reduce the deficit to 3-2, this also included a 'big fish' 170 checkout. 

Although, his resurgence was short-lived. De Decker responded emphatically, securing yet another 3-0 whitewash, his third of the match, putting himself just one set away from a place in the final.