Mike de Decker has credited an accidental equipment change for his renewed confidence after a difficult year, following his 10-8 victory over Adam Lipscombe in the fourth round of the UK Open. The Belgian explained that a recent trip to Poland led to him using shorter shafts by chance, which transformed his comfort on stage. "I normally play with 190 shafts and these were 130, but I didn't have any others with me," de Decker said. "It was the first time in a year that I felt comfortable playing with a set of darts."
De Decker, who won the World Grand Prix in a breakthrough success, admitted he struggled after switching equipment brands from Bulls to Mission, having used the same set for eight or nine years. "Switching to something completely different just took longer than expected," he noted. However, the accidental discovery in Poland sparked immediate improvement, with de Decker averaging 100 in a loss there and then posting three consecutive 100 averages in Pro Tours. His UK Open performance, including a 95 or 96 average over 18 legs, reinforced his progress.
Reflecting on his mental shift, de Decker said, "Hopefully I can go back to the feeling I had at the end of 2024. Then I would go into any game thinking: I will win this. Last year I was hoping to win." He also addressed his Premier League ambitions, acknowledging that his 2025 season likely justified his omission after 2024 but expressing hope to earn a spot next year. On Belgian darts, he highlighted the strength beyond just him, mentioning Dimitri Van den Bergh, Kim Huybrechts, and youth player Lex Paeshuyse, stating, "Belgian darts is in a good place."
