De Decker faces major ranking blow after stunning World Grand Prix triumph

MIKE DE DECKER is facing a huge ranking slide as he battles to defend the prize money he won at the World Grand Prix.

The Belgian is currently outside the qualification places for the major tournament and faces a huge fight to retain the money from his stunning 2024 triumph.

De Decker, 30, enjoyed a fantastic campaign that year as he claimed his first ProTour title before producing one of the biggest shocks in recent darting history.

The Real Deal stunned Luke Humphries 6-4 in the final to lift his maiden Premier event trophy and pocket a huge £120,000 payday.

But since then, De Decker has failed to win a match at the World Championship and has not reached a quarter-final at a ranked PDC Premier event.

Former pro Paul Nicholson believes De Decker faces an almost impossible task to make it back to Leicester.

He said: “The two biggest stories circling him right now is, will he make it to the Grand Prix to defend that prize money?

“I would say the odds for him making that tournament are about 100/1.

“He is so far behind. Even winning this [Players Championship] tournament he would still be about £25,000 behind the bubble.

“So, it is in every likelihood not going to happen. Secondly, what is he playing in for the next month?

“In fact, the only European Tour event he can get into is the one in Belgium because he is eligible to play in the host nation qualifier in Antwerp.

“I do believe he is going to play in that and I wish him well.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning