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'No idea what the difference from Friday was' - Impressive Mike De Decker sends Luke Humphries home at Belgian Darts Open 2025

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | By Kieran Wood | Last updated Mar 9, 2025 10:49 AM ET

Mike De Decker caused a sensation for his home crowd in Wieze on Saturday night. The 29-year-old Belgian beat world number one Luke Humphries 6-4 in the second round of the 2025 Belgian Darts Open and is now set to meet German number one Martin Schindler in the last sixteen.

In his opening match against Thomas Lovely, De Decker was still far below his best. But against Humphries it suddenly clicked and he threw a 100+ average. "No idea what the difference was from Friday," assessed De Decker in a post-match interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "That I was the underdog now? Maybe, but I honestly don't know. I did stand more relaxed on stage and I got a few pep talks."

"I dare to be good in a match sometimes when the practice wasn't good, but I trained well. For three hours I was throwing with Dimitri. It just flowed," he continues. "And when I got on stage, I was like, 'Okay, just do like in practice.' And that mindset did help. I also immediately got a few chances, which I then missed, but I didn't care that much. I could immediately cheer myself up again: 'Come on, next leg because there are still chances to come'. And so it turned out, so the feeling was good."

Mike de Decker in action at the Belgian Darts Open

'The Real' has been playing with new darts for a few weeks now and by his own admission was not yet confident in them. "It was just the same," he admits. "You know ... I started throwing those darts after the Worlds, where I wasn't good against Luke Woodhouse. I started with some prototypes and also played some tournaments with those before the announcement was official. And the feeling wasn't there. The Masters was not good, neither was the UK Open... And then you come here, win, but it wasn't actually good either. If he hits one of those two darts, it's over. I still pulled that match across the line, but not with a good feeling."

"You want to stand confident and I wasn't then, I am now," De Decker continued. "Don't ask me why, no idea. Those pep talks helped and maybe Ludo (his best mate, ed.) who was snoring next to me last night! The kebab we ate before that wasn't it at all, it was really bad."

DE DECKER DEFEATS HUMPHRIES!

Mike De Decker preserves Belgian hopes here in Wieze!

The World Grand Prix champion puts in a stellar display to complete a 6-4 victory over world number one Luke Humphries!

Luke Littler v Ryan Searle
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