“I dream of winning this trophy”

Mike De Decker has had a breakthrough year in 2024. The 28-year-old Belgian won the World Grand Prix in October and is heading into the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship with particular confidence. De Decker starts as 24th seed and will face the winner of the duel between Luke Woodhouse and Lourence Ilagan.

De Decker defeated world number one Luke Humphries 6-4 in the World Grand Prix final, proving himself a genuine contender for the World Championship. “It’s been great. I didn’t expect to win the Grand Prix. I’ve never made it to the round of 16 before,” De Decker told Sky Sports. “It’s been a huge change in my career, and even in my life. It’s incredible.”

“The Real Deal” has suffered from stage fright himself and has never made it past the last 64 World Darts Championships in the past. But this year, thanks to his good performances, he goes to Alexandra Palace with a lot of confidence. “If you do well in these tournaments, you have a lot of confidence for the biggest one, the Worlds. It’s a huge help to do well,” he explains. “I was always a little afraid to go on stage and perform in front of a big crowd. Now I just feel good. I’m not more nervous than at a floor tournament. I feel more confident. confidence than ever.”

“I dream of winning this trophy maybe once,” De Decker continued. “But for now I just hope to survive Christmas. It’s always been two games and now I only have one game left to win. So I hope I can do it this time.”

De Decker often holds the audience in his hands with his song “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers. “It made me nervous the last few years, but now I enjoy the extras, I enjoy the crowd. So no, not more nervous than before,” he says. “I got him at the European Championships. I got him in Prague on the European Tour. It gives me chills if John McDonald calls him. I think every darts player wants to be No. 1 world or world champion, so it’s a goal for me, I just want to climb as high as possible in the rankings.