Belgian darts player Mike de Decker has revealed that personal issues and mental strain contributed to a downturn in his form during 2025, but he is now hopeful of rediscovering his best in 2026. Speaking to Tungsten Tales in Poland, the 29-year-old admitted, "I had a lot on my mind last year – darts, private life, everything – and it was getting too much. I'm trying to sort that out now, and at the moment it's working." De Decker confirmed he has made significant changes behind the scenes to clear his mind and refocus, though he kept details private.
De Decker acknowledged that 2025 was a turning point, realizing he needed to improve beyond just his natural ability. "Last year opened my eyes that I had to do more," he explained. "Not just practice, but mentally I had to do more. Physically I had to do more – the whole package. That's what I've been doing, so hopefully it shows soon." A key factor in his renewed optimism is a change of equipment, with De Decker stating, "I've finally found a good set of darts that fits me. What I'm doing in practice is going really well. I played the Pro Tour last week and that was decent as well. I just need to get some confidence on stage, and hopefully I'll be back to being the Mike from 2024."
Despite his struggles, there have been signs of progress. At the Masters earlier this season, De Decker pushed world number one Luke Littler all the way before falling short, joking, "Well, I'm never going to put myself on double 11 again!" He took positives from the performance, noting, "If you get match darts against the world number one, who's been dominating the sport for the last year, you can take positives from that." However, the World Championship remains a source of frustration, with De Decker admitting, "My record at the Worlds isn't very good – I've lost in the first round six times now." His coping mechanism is to "block it out entirely," adding, "I don't watch any of it. I didn't pick up a dart for three weeks until it was finished. I just couldn't. That's basically how I cope with losing there – especially the way I did."
Looking ahead, De Decker emphasized the importance of the European Tour circuit for his major ambitions. "They're really important," he said. "I qualified for the first four European Tour events based on my ranking, and for five and six I was just outside. These are key to getting into the majors like the Matchplay, the Grand Prix and the others." He also referenced his 2024 form, saying, "I remember last year, the first European Tour, I had a really poor third game and then I reached the final. So hopefully this year it's the same." De Decker has been steadily winning but has not yet qualified for the World Matchplay.
With strong practice form, improved preparation, and a settled setup, De Decker is building quiet confidence. His goal is consistency, confidence, and a return to the level that made him a standout performer in 2024. While reluctant to make bold predictions, he remains focused on the work, hoping the results will follow soon.
