DE DECKER LEFT RUING EARLY EXIT IN BELGIUM
23/03/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
MIKE DE DECKER admitted “it sucks” after crashing out in round two of the Belgium Darts Open.
‘The Real Deal’ let a 5-3 lead slip on home soil as Niels Zonneveld fired off three legs in a row to seal the comeback win.
World No.18 De Decker has struggled on the big stage, exiting in the first round of three of his last four majors.
De Decker admitted he is still working his way back towards his best form and is taking a long-term view.
He told Het Niewsbauld: “Yeah, it sucks, doesn’t it? You’re up 5-3, you have the match in your hands, and then you throw it away.
“Yeah, stupid. I didn’t even get a match dart. I get to 32 twice, but both times a turn too late.
“Otherwise, I would have gotten a chance. Especially that leg at 5-4, I start with a 180 there, but then 57 and 44… Yeah, that’s just not allowed, is it?
“Man, oh man. If I just throw 100s twice there, I’ve got the match. Yeah, sucks. Maybe Wieze came just a few weeks too early, but oh well.
“You can’t expect it to be back to the 2024 level in no time. I’ve been training quite a lot and I’ve also sought professional help.
“So, hopefully things will turn out well soon and we’ll get that level back quickly. I know this is part of it, that it’s a process.
“It’s not fun to lose here, in my own country. But if I had lost like this in Munich two weeks ago, that would have been stupid too.
“I’m not happy, of course not, but I’m not going to wallow in despair now. I’ve had those periods and I’m focusing on my hard work, then it will come.”
De Decker has now won just one match on the European Tour this year and will have to come through qualifiers to reach upcoming events on the circuit.
The former World Grand Prix champion needed just one more victory to secure his place at events in Sindelfingen and Graz but instead missed out by just £250.
He added: “I’m not really looking forward to that. But it’s part of the game. Last year wasn’t good enough and now I’ve only managed to win one match, so.
“Then you don’t deserve it. Maybe those qualifiers can give me a boost.”
