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'I really didn't see this coming' - Mike De Decker surprises himself with final run at Belgian Darts Open 2025

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | By Kieran Wood | Last updated Mar 11, 2025 10:03 AM ET

Mike De Decker set the Oktoberhallen in Wieze on fire last weekend during the 2025 Belgian Darts Open. The 29-year-old Belgian reached the final in front of his home fans, before he eventually lost 8-5 to Luke Littler.

"This weekend was sillier than the Grand Prix. Still in terms of support and audience," Mike De Decker opens up to Het Nieuwsblad. "Also because you play four matches in one day. But in terms of performance, I rate the Grand Prix a tad higher anyway."

Before the tournament, De Decker, who recently switched from Bull's Darts to Mission Darts, had his doubts about his new arrows. But after a difficult opening match against Thomas Lovely, in which he gave up match darts, it suddenly clicked. "I literally don't understand anything about it," De Decker said. "It was two darts or I was out. Sometimes you need some luck."

"I really didn't see this day coming. It was going well at practice, but Friday you throw bad and you think 'why?' I win that match then, and then something clicked, I don't know what it is. Darts is a mental thing. You want things to work out and then you don't have patience. But despite some stronger matches with my new equipment, I'm still going to throw that thicker barrel anyway and see what it gives."

Punished

De Decker piled up the high averages after his mediocre opening match, but in the final it was suddenly down again. "I wasn't top in the final, I have to admit that honestly. I just couldn't repeat the performance of the past matches against Humphries and Price. And against Littler that gets punished. Then you have to be at your best. I did my best. Occasionally I managed to break him, but on the own leg it went wrong. 40, 60, 57-scores break you down... But overall I am very satisfied. This is what I had signed up for before the weekend."

After a long and grueling weekend, De Decker also looked a little tired in the final. "It could be that the barrel was off, but it didn't feel that way," he said. "I was able to sleep in Ludo's car (Rubais, his best friend, ed.) after the afternoon session and I put on La Cucaracha. Such a long day or weekend normally creeps into my clothes after the eighth finals, but now I felt really good. I did show my best level until the finals, so that's kind of a boost."

After a difficult start to the new year, De Decker seems to have been relaunched. "Yeah, maybe so, but well it's only one weekend eh. One tournament doesn't say anything. The main majors don't come until the second part of the year, but I'm going to cherish this weekend. The crowd was fantastic and now I just want to eat and sleep."