Jaimy Jacobs may have exited the Flanders Darts Trophy in the first round on Friday, but the 35-year-old Belgian will never forget his first appearance on a PDC stage. Jacobs lost 6-1 to Niko Springer in Antwerp, yet the week had already delivered a moment that will live long in the memory: a 6-5 victory over Mike De Decker in Thursday's Host Nation Qualifier.
"I had goosebumps during my walk-on," Jacobs told Het Nieuwsblad. "I didn't really know where to look first, so it all felt a bit awkward (laughs). In any case, an unforgettable experience."
The win over De Decker was no fluke, even if Jacobs was quick to temper expectations. "I've actually known Mike since he started his career," he said. "So since he was 17, 18. We're a bit of a fixed clique together with his best friend Ludo. I'm a little older than them; those two are almost like brothers (laughs). I'm mostly happy I finally managed to beat Mike. Usually that's not the case."
Jacobs, a carpenter by trade, felt the result reflected his steady improvement. "It's not like I threw the match of my life. I've grown enormously these last years. For instance, I narrowly lost the final of a charity tournament to Kim Huybrechts last year. Since then I've moved forward in terms of averages, my throw, handling nerves... I used to stand at the board with the shakes and now that's much less. And that came out on Thursday."
He also sensed that De Decker, a former World Grand Prix champion, took the defeat with grace. "Mike was happy for me, too. I understand it was sour for him, of course, but I think he preferred losing to me rather than someone else."
A day later, Springer provided a different challenge. "All in all the nerves weren't too bad; I really expected worse. I always need a bit to settle, so the first leg was getting used to it. But I just couldn't break through. I also know it was a different setting. It was unfamiliar territory for me."
Jacobs revealed that his warm-up had gone well, but the stage environment changed everything. "The nerves were manageable, but it wasn't like against Mike. Still, the warm-up went really well. Then you walk onto the stage and everything is different. The throw, the board, the surroundings, the atmosphere... You want it a bit too much and then it doesn't come."
Off the oche, Jacobs had to make a last-minute wardrobe change. "I'm a carpenter by trade, at Martens Hout in Kontich. My boss will be happy with the shirt I wore. I had one from my darts team, but in the end I wasn't allowed to wear it because it had a big sponsor on it. A shame, because a day earlier they'd said it would be allowed." He added: "So I just put on a work polo for my match. My own shirt is still in development, so this tournament came a bit too soon. Pity. I kind of get it, but it's frustrating that first it was supposedly fine and then the next day suddenly not anymore."
Despite his eye-catching week, Jacobs has no plans to overhaul his life for a professional darts career. "I have a girlfriend who works weekends and a little son. So the home situation doesn't exactly allow me to play many bigger tournaments abroad or so. I'm the typical player who competes close to home. In the Antwerp area I'm a regular and most people in that region know me, I think."
He added: "I'm 35, I have a son I want to see a lot... It's hard to combine the darts life with family life."
Still, a next step isn't completely off the table. "Maybe I'll do Q-School just to experience it once. And I'm allowed to go to England early next year for the MODUS Super Series, so we'll show the best of ourselves there."
Springer, meanwhile, advanced to a round two clash with Nathan Aspinall, despite hitting six of his 35 attempts at double.
