Almost a perfect end to the eighth set for Luke Humphries, which would have levelled this match.

On a 170 finish, he takes out both treble 20s, but the bull ending is just wide.

De Decker finishes on double nine to level this set.

Another very slow start to the leg for Mike de Decker, who is out of it by miles when Luke Humphries is on a chance of a finish.

A 13-dart leg, off a double start, puts Humphries ahead in this eighth set.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

De Decker was doing everything right for the first five or six sets and now it's all going south.

Unwanted Deja vu for Mike de Decker. It takes him eight darts at double 16 to get his leg underway.

By the time he comes back for a first proper visit, Luke Humphries is more than 200 clear.

De Decker does buy himself a chance with a 180 then 62 to leave 170, putting pressure on Humphries.

Humphries misses out on a 101 finish and De Decker's hopes of a 112 finish are dashed at the final hurdle.

A double 16 finish from Humphries levels.

Luke Humphries starts off this eighth set with the darts in hand, but needs four attempts to get his leg under way.

It opens the door for Mike de Decker, but forcing an 100 attempt, a bounce out sums up how the last couple of sets have gone for him.

Humphries replies with a maximum and then 123, to set up 26.

De Decker has to take out 90 and he does so, finishing on bull.

Image source, Getty Images

No doubt about who is the king of this tournament.

Phil 'The Power' Taylor lifted the trophy 11 times.

He won the first three tournaments from 1998 and followed up in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Michael van Gerwen has triumphed six times - 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

James Wade is the other multiple champion, with victories in 2007 and 2010.

Can Luke Humphries fight back to join him as a double victor?

A big chance to take set seven for Luke Humphries.

With two darts at double 20, Humphries has plenty of time to take the seventh set but goes over on both occasions.

De Decker has the chance to level up, missing out on doubles at 16 and eight. A huge chance.

Humphries needs two more at tops, but gets the job done.

From 4-1 down, Humphries has pulled it back to 4-3.

Luke Humphries looked certain to make it 4-3 in sets. Mike de Decker, however, has other ideas.

He has shown the odd sign of promise after a tough period and backs it up with a 156 finish. Two treble 20s and a double 18 puts a smile back on his face.

Humphries welcomes it with a fist bump.

A high scoring second leg from both men gives De Decker some confidence.

Luke Humphries is robbed of a maximum by his own flight, landing his third dart into the flight of one of his previous arrows.

De Decker misses out taking out 67 and with a double 20, Humphries holds his throw and doubles his advantage in the set.

Mike de Decker needs to find some inspiration from somewhere.

Those 149 and 152 finishes in back-to-back legs from Luke Humphries seem to have completely knocked the stuffing out of the Belgian.

Humphries holds without really being tested at the start of the seventh set.

John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

I don't have enough energy to get through this.

A bit of nerves creep in from both men in this sixth set decider.

De Decker was on the brink of a 5-1 lead. Instead, it is 4-2 and Humphries has just shown why he is the defending world champion.

Despite being two sets down, he almost seems on top now, finishing 50 as cool as you like.

A remarkable five legs of darts.

Image source, Simon O'Connor/PDC

Luke Humphries goes for back-to-back big finishes to level set six and boy, did he get it right!

After 149 in the last leg, he takes out 152 this time around. Treble 20, treble 20, double 16. In the last two legs, Humphries has completely transformed his game.

The odds are against him, but he's not out of it yet.

Mike De Decker gets the chance to break throw and win set six on 150, scoring 109 to leave 41.

In response, seemingly out of nowhere, Luke Humphries takes out 149. Treble 20, treble 19, double 16. Perfect.

A fitting celebration afterwards. Humphries needed that.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

They are feeling it. Every double on that board is just a hell of a chore.

Humphries and De Decker are both on 290 but get down to 110 back-to-back, with both finalists finding maximums.

Neither man take out their 110 attempts and their next attempts to finish, 32 and 16 respectively, are both wasted.

Humphries' poor finishing continues on double two and it opens the door for De Decker, slotting into double two to hold throw.

Mike de Decker is showing his game management, or at least what he's trying to do, slowing this match down and put off the fast-paced Humphries.

Cool Hand has the darts to start the set and misses finishes on bull and twice at double eight.

De Decker comes back needing double 16. At the second attempt, despite a challenging first-dart marker, he finishes brilliantly to break Humphries once more.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Look at the reaction. I'm sure that was relief more than anything.

The nerves in this match from both men, and the crowd in Leicester, have suddenly turned up several notches.

A couple of trebleless visits from both men add to the pressure, but needing 167, De Decker finds two treble 20s and sets himself up with double 16, knowing Humphries is behind him and that there is no need to force a finish.

It takes the Belgian three darts, but he does get the job done in the end.

De Decker leads Humphries 4-1 and is two sets away from his first major title.